What to Do in the Adirondacks This Weekend: Hockey, Art, Harvest, and Happy Dogs

What is happening in the Adirondacks September 17 to 20? This weekend brings the ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational to the Lake Placid Olympic Center (September 17–20), Saranac Lake's Third Thursday ArtWalks on September 17, the Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport on September 19, and Bark in the Park on September 20.

Some Adirondack weekends just have a little of everything. This is one of them: college hockey where hockey history was made, an evening of art in downtown Saranac Lake, a harvest festival full of local food, and, because the dogs deserve a weekend too, a park day built for them. Add in the mountain scenery of mid-September, and it is a genuinely great few days to be in the region.

Here is a roundup from Tina Leonard Real Estate of what is happening, plus a bigger thought about why a weekend like this is so central to Adirondack life. Details can change, so confirm times and locations with each event before you head out.

The Marquee Event: College Hockey Returns to Lake Placid

ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational, September 17–20, Olympic Center

College hockey is coming back to the place where hockey history was made. The ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational packs 24 teams and 36 games into one weekend at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the same arena complex that hosted the 1980 "Miracle on Ice." Whether you are a lifelong hockey fan or just want to soak up the atmosphere of one of the most storied venues in the sport, it is a special place to catch a game.

It is also a reminder of what makes Lake Placid unlike anywhere else, a small Adirondack village with a genuine Olympic legacy woven right into daily life.

Art, Harvest, and Happy Dogs

Saranac Lake Third Thursday ArtWalks, Thursday, September 17

Grab a friend and make an evening of it. The Third Thursday ArtWalks turn downtown Saranac Lake into a walkable celebration of local creativity, pop into galleries, meet local artists, and enjoy the easy, community feel of one of the Adirondacks' most artistic villages. You can find the current lineup on the Saranac Lake events calendar.

Adirondack Harvest Festival, Saturday, September 19, Westport

Peak harvest season shines at the Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport, and this year's theme is "Bees and Honey." Expect local farmers and vendors, food, music, family activities, and plenty of Adirondack-grown goodness. The festival is part of the region's Adirondack Harvest program through Cornell Cooperative Extension, which champions local farms and food across the North Country.

Bark in the Park, Sunday, September 20

Because obviously the dogs deserve a weekend activity too. Bark in the Park is a relaxed, tail-wagging way to close out the weekend outdoors with your four-legged family members.

And of course, mid-September in the Adirondacks means the scenery does a lot of the work on its own. The Adirondack Park spans roughly six million acres and includes 101 towns and villages, with about 123,000 year-round residents, according to the Adirondack Park Agency. For even more ideas across the region, Visit Adirondacks keeps a running events list.

Why Weekends Like This Matter

When people ask what it is really like to live in the Adirondacks, weekends like this are the honest answer. In a single few days you can watch elite hockey in an Olympic arena, walk an art-filled downtown, shop a harvest festival, and spend a morning outside with your dog, most of it a short, scenic drive from home rather than a highway slog.

That everyday access to culture, community, and the outdoors is exactly why so many people fall for the region and start wondering what it would take to stay. If a weekend like this has you daydreaming, a few home buying tips are worth keeping in mind:

• Let lifestyle lead, then run the numbers. Start with the towns and settings that fit how you want to spend your weekends, near the trails, the water, or a walkable downtown, then weigh the specifics of individual homes.
• Read the local rhythm. Adirondack market trends do not always mirror national headlines; a village with Olympic-level demand like Lake Placid behaves differently than quieter year-round towns, so lean on local, street-level insight. Our post on Lake Placid Olympic real estate digs into that.
• Think long term. Whether you want a primary home or are weighing investment advice for a seasonal property, a place with genuine year-round life tends to hold both its appeal and its value.

For a closer look at how a weekend here can turn into something more, we also love our piece on the Lake Placid weekend that could become your next home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational in Lake Placid? It is a college club hockey event featuring 24 teams and 36 games over the weekend of September 17–20 at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the historic arena complex tied to the 1980 Winter Olympics. Confirm the current game schedule with the venue before attending.

What is the theme of this year's Adirondack Harvest Festival? This year's Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport is themed "Bees and Honey," celebrating local pollinators and Adirondack-grown food, with farmers, vendors, music, and family activities on Saturday, September 19.

What is the best way to spend a fall weekend in the Adirondacks? Mix a signature event with time outdoors. Catch a hockey game or the harvest festival, wander an art walk, then enjoy the mountain scenery on a scenic drive or a walk with the dog. Mid-September pairs great weather with a full community calendar.

Make the Adirondacks Your Home Base

There is always something happening around here, and that is exactly the point. Weekends like this are a taste of everyday Adirondack life, from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake to Westport and beyond.

If you find yourself wishing you could enjoy it all year, Tina Leonard Real Estate would love to help. Browse current listings or reach out for personalized advice, and in the meantime, enjoy the weekend. What would you pick?