October Comes Out Swinging in the Adirondacks
Peak fall foliage on Blue Mountain Lake.
October has barely begun, and the Adirondacks are wasting no time. Oktoberfest season is underway, fall traditions are taking over the calendar, and this weekend stretches from world-class mountain biking to apple pressing, Bavarian dancing and one famously enormous garage sale.
In Lake Placid, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series brings elite riders back to Mt Van Hoevenberg for three days of racing. Warrensburg, meanwhile, braces for its annual influx of bargain hunters at the World’s Largest Garage Sale, an event whose sheer size has long since become part of Adirondack fall lore.
Elsewhere, autumn gets down to business. ADKX FallFest in Blue Mountain Lake goes old-school with apple pressing, fiber arts and traditional fall pastimes, while Fort Ticonderoga’s Heritage, Harvest & Horse Festival puts working horses at the center of its celebration. And anyone ready for lederhosen has choices: Titus Mountain Oktoberfest brings the party to Malone, while Old Forge Oktoberfest returns in a new location at SPACE Old Forge.
And those are just some of ADK Taste’s hand-picked picks for October 2–5. The calendar is unusually stacked, the geography is broad, and this is one of those weekends when choosing what not to do may be the harder
See more of our curated guide to current and upcoming events in the Adirondacks.
Here’s what’s happening across the Adirondacks this weekend.
The world's best mountain bikers descend on Lake Placid for the season finale — with Cross-Country at Mt Van Hoevenberg, Downhill at Whiteface and a free Friday Night Bike Jam in the village.
Get in gear. →
More than 500 vendors. 20,000+ shoppers. One Adirondack town swallowed whole by a garage sale. Warrensburg’s famous fall weekend is back — but know what you’re getting into before you go.
Quilts aren't just keeping anyone warm at View Arts Center. Quilts Unlimited brings together traditional craftsmanship and contemporary fiber art in a nationally juried exhibition in Old Forge this fall.
The woods at Silver Bay have developed a zombie problem. Friday nights in October offer an easy trail walk with Nerf blasters provided; Saturdays take you to Haunted Paine Hall for scares. Choose an evening—and some brave company.
Horses, heirloom apples, local food and six acres of corn: Fort Ticonderoga’s fall festival turns its historic Lake Champlain landscape into a harvest celebration where the setting is as much a part of the experience as the festivities.
A $5 ticket, free chairlift rides, and fireworks at dusk: Titus Mountain’s October 3 Oktoberfest offers fall festival fans plenty to enjoy. Kids 12 and under enter free, and three bands keep Malone’s mountain celebration going into the evening.
New digs, same excuse for lederhosen. Old Forge Oktoberfest moves to SPACE, with Bavarian dancing, brat-eating and stein-hoisting contests, plus ticketed evening music. Here’s how the day unfolds.
All hail the Adirondack potato. Tucker Farms’ SPUD Fest pairs creative potato dishes from Paul Smith’s College students with a corn maze, wagon rides, live music and a full afternoon of fall fun in Gabriels.
Fall with a hands-on twist: apple pressing, crafts, music and a kids trout fishing derby at ADKX in Blue Mountain Lake on October 4. Year-round Adirondack Park residents get free admission with proof of residency.
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Ongoing events and exhibitions.
Remember Storytown, roadside motels, classic attractions, and the family vacations that defined Lake George? Bolton Museum's newest exhibit brings the golden age of Adirondack tourism vividly back to life.
Six giant trolls are taking over The Wild Center this summer. Created from reclaimed materials by world-renowned artist Thomas Dambo, these whimsical guardians invite visitors to explore the Adirondacks through art, storytelling, and environmental stewardship.
Simple, useful—and unexpectedly modern. “Form and Function: The Beauty of Shaker Design” brings rarely exhibited Shaker furniture, tools, and everyday objects to The Hyde Collection, marking 250 years since the Shakers first settled in upstate New York.
Upcoming Adirondack events.
It’s never too early to start planning your next adventure in the ADK.
Fall color looks different from a gondola. Head to Gore Mountain for scenic skyrides, 60-plus makers, live music and a full weekend of North Creek autumn. Festival admission is free.
Bratwurst, barrel tapping and a little competitive stein hoisting: Lake George’s free village Oktoberfest fills Canada Street October 9–11. Check the schedule for polka bands, Bavarian dancers and free pumpkin painting.
Lederhosen optional. An appetite advisable. Adirondack Brewery’s charity block party pairs German festival food with beer, wine, and cider sampling—plus polka and a chance to test those stein-hoisting muscles. Ages 21+.
Give those stein-hoisting muscles a job. →
America's Story Runs Through the Adirondacks
From Fort Ticonderoga and Teddy Roosevelt to the Miracle on Ice and the birth of the American vacation, the Adirondacks helped shape the nation.
To see all our recommendations for upcoming events in the Adirondacks, visit our events page.
Ultimate Guide to the Adirondacks
Your insider’s guide to exploring the Adirondacks—where to go, what to eat, and the experiences that make this place unforgettable.
ADK Talks Podcast
Love the Adirondacks? You’ll love our podcast. We take listeners beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of the Adirondacks. We share stories from the people behind the best places to eat, shop, stay and explore in the ADK. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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It’s early morning, and the mist hovers above the glassy surface of your favorite Adirondack lake, undisturbed but for the rhythmic dip of your paddle. The only sound is the gentle ripple of water breaking against your canoe. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the promise of another perfect day in the Adirondacks. Your worries are left ashore, traded for the serenity that only paddling these waters can provide.
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