What to Do in the Adirondacks This Weekend: Oktoberfest, a Lakeside Marathon, and More

What's happening in the Adirondacks the weekend of September 26–27, 2026? Whiteface Oktoberfest in Wilmington, the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival at Schroon Lake, Bike the Barns, and a Manhattan Short screening at the Whallonsburg Grange. The first two run both days.

Late September is when the Adirondacks start to look the way people picture them: cooler mornings, the first real color on the hillsides, and a calendar full of things to do. This weekend's lineup covers a lot of ground. There's a mountain festival, a 26.2-mile run around a lake, a countryside ride, and a film night for anyone who'd rather be indoors.

Below is what we were able to confirm from each organizer's own website as of Thursday, September 24, 2026, along with a few practical notes for planning. Event details change, so check the organizer's page before you head out.

Oktoberfest at Whiteface Mountain (Wilmington)

When: Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 27, 10:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Where: Whiteface Mountain, 5021 Route 86, Wilmington

This is a full weekend event this year, not just Saturday, so you can pick the day that fits. According to Whiteface's Oktoberfest page, the festival grounds and gondola open at 10:30 a.m. and entertainment starts at 11:00 a.m. each day.

What's on the schedule:

• Live music and dancing: die Schlauberger, The Adlers, the Alpenland Taenzer dancers, and an Alphorn Trio. The trio also plays at the top of Little Whiteface. Scha-Musi plays in the Cloudspin Bar & Grill.
• Food and drink: outdoor vendors include Roger's Bratwagon, Roger's Pizza Tent, Kielbasa n More, Holy Smoked Meats, Waffle Cabin and others, plus beer trailers. No food or drink tickets are needed, but vendors take credit cards only.
• Family activities: craft vendors, pumpkin painting, kids' entertainment, and bounce houses.
• Scenic gondola rides: these are the main draw at peak foliage. Whiteface itself suggests riding early, because afternoon lines get long.

Admission (per Whiteface's published pricing): adult one-day admission is $20 online in advance or $25 at the gate. Adult admission with a gondola ride is $40 in advance or $45 at the gate. Seniors 65+ pay $18 in advance or $20 at the gate. Juniors 12 and under get in free. 2026/27 Whiteface season passholders get in free on Sunday, and the Lake Placid Legacy Sites Passport includes one day's admission.

Planning note: Route 86 between Lake Placid and Wilmington carries a lot of leaf-peeping traffic on fall weekends. Arriving at opening makes both parking and the gondola line easier.

Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival (Schroon Lake)

When: Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27 Where: Schroon Lake and the surrounding towns

The Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival is one of the region's longest-running road races. The marathon course circles the nine-mile-long Schroon Lake. Here is how the weekend breaks down, per the festival's site.

Saturday, September 26

• 5K and 10K: held in nearby Chestertown, hosted by the Chestertown Rotary. See the 5K, 10K & Fun Run page for the current start time.
• Kids Fun Run (ages 4–12): starts at the marathon finish line off Leland Avenue in Schroon Lake.
• Packet pickup: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Pre-race dinner: 5–7 p.m.

Sunday, September 27

• Marathon: starts at 8:00 a.m. in downtown Schroon Lake.
• Half marathon: starts at 9:00 a.m. at the 13.1-mile mark in the town of Adirondack. It runs the second half of the full course, which the organizers describe as flat along the east shore before long, gentle hills on Route 9 back into Schroon (half marathon details).
• Four-person marathon relay: on the same course.
• The finish line is near the pavilion on Leland Avenue.

Not running? The finish area on Leland Avenue is the natural place to cheer runners in. The loop around the lake also passes plenty of quiet roadside stretches. If you're driving through the area Sunday morning, expect runners on the course roads and plan extra time.

Bike the Barns (Saturday, September 26)

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026 Where: the Lake Champlain Region

Bike the Barns is a fully supported recreational ride with stops at local farms. The day ends with a celebration featuring local food, drinks, and live music. It's one of the more relaxed ways to see the Champlain Valley's working farm landscape as the season turns.

Registration supports the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and its work to strengthen local food systems across the region. Registration is open through BikeReg.

As of this writing, the event listing says 2026 route details are "coming soon." Check the registration page for the start location, route options, and fees before you go.

Manhattan Short Film Festival

If your ideal weekend involves a comfortable seat and a good story, Manhattan Short is a different kind of festival. This year's 29th edition runs September 24 through October 4 at more than 500 venues worldwide. Every venue screens the same ten finalist films, and the audience gets ballots on entry to vote for Best Film and Best Actor. Winners are announced on the festival's website after the screening week wraps up.

The 2026 finalists come from ten countries, including the USA, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, the UK, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia, and Mexico.

Where to watch locally: the Champlain Valley Film Series presents a one-night-only screening at the Whallonsburg Grange, 1610 NY-22.

• When: Saturday, September 26, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
• Tickets: $7.50 for adults, $4 for under 18
• Extras: you'll get a voting card when you arrive, and refreshments, including movie popcorn, are available.

Full details are on the Grange's event page.

Making a Weekend of It

With events spread from Wilmington to Schroon Lake, it helps to pick a home base. Wilmington to Schroon Lake is a real drive, not a quick hop, so most people will pick one area per day.

• Saturday: Oktoberfest in Wilmington pairs naturally with an afternoon in Lake Placid. Or catch the Kids Fun Run and pre-race dinner in Schroon Lake.
• Sunday: Marathon morning in Schroon Lake, or the quieter second day of Oktoberfest (free for Whiteface season passholders).
• Saturday, Champlain Valley side: Bike the Barns during the day, then Manhattan Short at the Whallonsburg Grange at 7:00 p.m.

For road conditions and construction updates on fall weekends, New York's official 511NY traveler information service is worth checking before you drive.

Why Weekends Like This Matter If You're Thinking About Living Here

A lot of people who reach out to us first came to the region for an event like one of these: a race, a festival, a fall drive. What keeps them coming back is that this kind of weekend isn't unusual here. Wilmington lives with Whiteface at the end of Route 86, and Schroon Lake's whole downtown turns out for marathon weekend.

If you're weighing a move, event weekends are a practical way to get a feel for a town. You'll see traffic patterns, how busy things get, and how the community shows up. If Wilmington is on your list, our Wilmington community page and our comparison of Lake Placid vs. Wilmington are good places to start. You can also browse current listings across the region.

Missed last week's roundup? Catch up on hockey, art, harvest, and happy dogs.

Planning a Move to the Adirondacks?

Whether you're here for a weekend or thinking about staying longer, Tina Leonard Real Estate can help you understand the towns, the housing, and what day-to-day life looks like in each community. Reach out through our contact page, or call or text Chase Jermano, Managing Broker, at (518) 637-5272.