Entertainment in Saranac Lake 

Saranac Lake checks so many boxes when it comes to being a great place to visit (and live). Views? Check. Great food? Check. Unlimited outdoor fun? Check. The list goes on. But another prerequisite to being a a great destination is quality entertainment, and in Saranac Lake that box certainly gets checked too. It's here where you can find incredible live music, hilarious comedy, and even entertainment by way of a rich art scene. We'll let you know about the options and then it's up to you to choose and have some decidedly different fun!

Comedy

To find comedy in Saranac Lake look no further than the Garagery, one of the Adirondacks’ premier event spaces. Located behind Grizle T's downtown, the venue can be easily accessed from the Dorsey Street parking lot and comes complete with a full bar. The Garagery hosts open mic nights aptly named “Cringe Nights,” professional comedy shows, and can even be rented out as a private event space. This fall, it’s taking entertainment to the next level with events like Comedy Night that will feature some of the funniest comedians from Philadelphia, NYC, and DC. More events are sure to come, and they’re sure to be every bit as entertaining. The “Keep Saranac Lake Weird” mural by the front door tells you everything you need to know. The Garagery is a place to laugh, cringe, and get weird. 

Live music

There’s no debate. Saranac Lake has an elite live music scene. Throughout the summer and fall, “Party on the Patio”, located at the Waterhole, is one of, if not, the best live music experiences in the Adirondacks. Bands from far and wide come to Saranac Lake to put on some incredible shows. You can get up close and personal with the band and have space to dance on the patio, or you can head to the balcony to catch an aerial view of the show. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the shows are moved inside to their upstairs music venue. Inside the Waterhole is a full bar to keep you “hydrated” while you watch the show. Oh, and did I mention? The shows are FREE. Yes, free. I’ve frequented these shows, and I can say that even if the shows weren’t free, you’d still be getting your money’s worth. The live music fun at the Waterhole doesn’t stop when the cold weather starts though. During the colder months, the Waterhole continues to bring in top talent. The only difference is that now there are admission prices, but again, it’s worth your time and it’s worth the money. 

The Waterhole isn’t the only place that offers live music in town, though. Live music is played in Berkeley Park during the summer and fall. Bitters & Bones offers live music on their patio from top local talent every Wednesday. On Fridays, the Hotel Saranac offers live music, and every first and third Wednesday of the month they host an open mic night. On Labor Day weekend, Northern Current Music Festival takes place in Riverside Park and offers a jam-packed day of live music for the community as well. If you need live music, Saranac Lake has what you want. 

Adirondack Center for Writing

The Adirondack Center for Writing's mission is as follows: “The Adirondack Center for Writing cultivates the art of writing, the joy of reading, and the love of storytelling. We celebrate the power of language to invite discovery, to create an understanding of people and sense of place, and to build community.” And for twenty years, they’ve done just that. While the ACW provides a space where individuals can cultivate their writing ability, it’s also an organization that offers entertaining events. Most notably, the Howl Story Slam. The Story Slam is a story-telling competition that’s open to anyone who’s interested in competing. Competitors are given 5 minutes to tell a story, and at the end of the night, after each participant has given their performance, a panel of judges will decide the winner. In addition to the story slams, the ACW offers events like spoken word poetry performances, open mic nights, and so much more! Whether you’re a storyteller, love to write, or just want to listen, the Adirondack Center for Writing has something for you. 

The arts: performing or creating

A huge part of Saranac Lake's charm is the fact that it boasts such a rich arts scene. With an art community like this, opportunity for entertainment is abound here. ADK ArtRise gives you the chance to create for entertainment. It's here where you're encouraged to "Come Make Stuff" and if that sounds like it's up your alley, then this is the place to be. ArtRise offers classes that include skills like drawing, painting, sculpting, and more. They even offer courses for beginners and children, so there's a spot for every age and skill level here. In addition, events like Date Night allow you to connect with the community and your creativity at the same time. It's a great place to bring your significant other, a friend, or to meet someone new while you have fun creating your own work of art. Artist exhibits can also be found here on a rotating basis and offer something for those who like to appreciate art rather than create it. But the art scene doesn't stop there. Every third Thursday of the month during the summer, Saranac Lake holds their monthly Third Thursday Art Walk. Grab yourself an art themed map and walk through the historic downtown while you're completely immersed in drawings, paintings, performers, music, and art fans from all over.

Performance art is not forgotten here in Saranac Lake either! At Pendragon Theatre, fans of plays and performances can go and indulge in quality productions brought you to you by the only year-round professional theatre company in the Adirondacks! This is your chance to catch a professional-quality show right here in the Adirondacks! 

Decide for yourself

No matter where your interests lie, there's surely something in Saranac Lake that will entertain you while you're here. Live music, performances, and art are just some of the many things to do here. Find a place to stay, try some of the best dining in the area, or get outdoors, and be entertained in a decidedly different way in Saranac Lake!