What to Do in the Adirondacks This Weekend: Flaming Leaves, Figure Skating on Black Ice, and an Apple Folk Festival

What's happening in the Adirondacks the weekend of October 10–11, 2026? The Flaming Leaves Festival and national ski jumping championships, the World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships, a free Heaven Hill history hike in Lake Placid, and Applefolkfest in Crown Point.

It's a holiday weekend, with Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, and fall color is at or near its peak across much of the region. This weekend's lineup is a good mix: athletes launching off Olympic ski jumps, skaters carving art into the ice, a quiet walk through local history, and a homestead harvest festival on the Champlain side of Essex County.

Below is what we confirmed from each organizer's or listing's website as of Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Schedules can change, so check the event page before you head out.

Flaming Leaves Festival (Lake Placid)

When: Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11. Gates are open 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. both days. Where: Olympic Jumping Complex, 5486 Cascade Road, Lake Placid

This is one of Lake Placid's signature fall events. The festival runs alongside the US Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships, so you can watch athletes fly off the same jumps used in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The nordic combined races are held at Mt Van Hoevenberg.

Ski jumping schedule (per the Olympic Jumping Complex event page):

• Saturday: first round on the large hill (HS128) at 10:30 a.m., plus small-hill jumping (HS10 and HS20) from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
• Sunday: trial round on the HS100 hill at 9:00 a.m., and the first round at 10:00 a.m.

Around the festival:

• Live music, food and drinks, and craft vendors.
• Face painting and caricature portraits from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• On Sunday, The Foam Show and ADK Raptor, from noon to 2:00 p.m. (event listing).

Admission (per day):

• Ages 13–64: $10
• Ages 7–12 and 65+: $5
• Children 6 and under, and season passholders: free

Planning note: with the holiday weekend and peak foliage, expect heavy traffic on Route 73 (Cascade Road). Getting there close to gate opening makes parking easier.

World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships on Black Ice (Lake Placid)

When: October 7–11, with the main championship finals on Saturday, October 10 Where: 1932 Arena, Olympic Center, 2634 Main Street, Lake Placid

This is one of the more unusual events on the Adirondack calendar. The World Figure Sport Society, a Lake Placid–based nonprofit, hosts the championships here for the 12th consecutive year. The sport goes back to skating's roots. Skaters trace precise figures and "fancy" designs into black ice, a dark surface that makes the patterns stand out. The event listing describes it as a sport that blends figures and fancy skating with fine art.

Saturday highlights (per the World Figure Sport website):

• 2:00 p.m.: Creative Artworks, the World Championships for Ladies and Men
• 7:00 p.m.: Fancy Skating finals, the World Championships for Ladies and Men

Admission: the Lake Placid event listing says spectator admission is free, and paid VIP tickets are also available. Check the organizer's site for the current session times.

Why it's worth a stop: you'll get a close-up look at a precision art form most people have never seen, held in the arena from the 1932 Winter Olympics, right on Main Street.

Heaven Hill History Hike (Lake Placid)

When: Saturday, October 10, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Where: Heaven Hill trails, off Bear Cub Road, Lake Placid. Directions are sent to registered participants; the hike does not start at John Brown Farm.

A guide from John Brown Farm State Historic Site leads this free walk of about 2 miles over rolling terrain. It explores the stories of abolitionist John Brown, his family and neighbors, and the history of African Americans in the North Elba area in the mid-1800s. Heaven Hill is owned by the Henry and Mildred Uihlein Foundation.

Registration is required at least one day in advance, and space is limited. Contact details for the guide are on the event listing. It's a good fit for families with kids who can handle a moderate walk, and for anyone curious about the history behind the place names they drive past every day.

Penfield Museum Applefolkfest (Crown Point)

When: Sunday, October 11, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Where: Penfield Homestead Museum, 703 Creek Road, Crown Point

On the Champlain Valley side of Essex County, the Penfield Homestead Museum hosts its annual Applefolkfest. It's a down-home harvest celebration with free admission and free entry to the homestead.

What to expect:

• Live music.
• A marketplace with crafters, artisans, local produce, and local authors.
• Flea market finds.
• A snack shack serving chili, burgers, hot dogs, sausage with peppers and onions, brats, and an apple dessert bake sale.

Make a day of it: Crown Point sits on the shore of Lake Champlain. If you're coming from the Tri-Lakes area, the drive down through the valley is one of the prettier fall routes in the region.

Also on the Calendar This Weekend

A few more options if you're staying in the Lake Placid–Saranac Lake area. Find details on the Lake Placid events calendar.

• Lake Placid Classic Half Marathon, 10K & 5K: Saturday morning.
• Saranac Lake High Peaks Farmers' Market: Saturday, October 10. This is the last market of the season.
• Path Through History Weekend: Saturday through Monday, October 10–12.

Planning Your Weekend

• Saturday: start with the Heaven Hill hike or a Flaming Leaves morning. Spend the afternoon on the large-hill jumps, then watch the Fancy Skating finals Saturday night at the Olympic Center.
• Sunday: Flaming Leaves in the morning, or a drive down to Crown Point for Applefolkfest.
• Monday: with the holiday, make a slow morning of it and enjoy the leaves before heading home.

Check New York's official 511NY traveler information service for road conditions before you drive. Holiday weekends at peak foliage are among the busiest of the year on Adirondack roads.

What a Weekend Like This Says About Living Here

Lake Placid is one of the few places where a national ski jumping championship, a world skating championship, and a free history walk all happen within a couple of miles of each other. Meanwhile, an hour down the road, a homestead museum is serving chili and apple desserts. That range is a big part of what draws people to live here year-round, not just visit.

If you're thinking about a move, our Lake Placid community page covers the market, the neighborhoods, and the regulations buyers should know. You can also browse current listings across the region.

Missed last weekend? Catch up on World Cup mountain biking, dance, and the Rail Trail.

Thinking About Making the Adirondacks Home?

Tina Leonard Real Estate can help you compare towns, understand the local market, and find a home that fits how you want to live. Reach out through our contact page.