The event was hosted as usual by the Women’s Civic Chamber and opened with a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department. The raffle winner, offered the chance to have $443, shouted from the Harrietstown Town Hall balcony that they would rather their half go to the fire department as well.

The fire department brought in the colors, and the Adirondack Singers led the hall, filled to the eaves, in the national anthem. The Rev. Joann White, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, opened the evening with a prayer.

“Grace to you and peace, my prehistoric friends,” White said. “Almighty God, we call you by many names, yet you are one. You have blessed us with winter in abundance. Snow blankets our mountains. Our lakes are logged in ice. Your cold takes our breath away.”

Village Mayor Clyde Rabideau formally announced the festivities — noting the ceremony’s founding 122 years ago as a diversion during the winter months. This year’s grand marshall, Melinda Little, was granted a key to the city — a big bone. Kathy McHugh, the chamberlain, spoke of the troubles one might have explaining the Winter Carnival to those someone who has never been to see the event — like a frying pan tossing competition and how a palace can be built from ice harvested from a nearby lake.

Finn Maiore, one of the six Winter Carnival pages, breakdances during the pages’ dance routine onstage at Friday’s night’s Coronation ceremony in the Harrietstown Town Hall. (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)

“In one single celebration we have fireworks, a Gala Parade, competitions on the snow and on the ice, royalty, torches, races, brooms, inner tubes, dances, music, performances, lawn chairs, marching bands, floats, food, an Ice Palace with a slideshow on the side of said Ice Palace,” McHugh said, “and 99 percent of this is outdoors.”

Princess Kenadhe Howell and Prince Christian Murguia II were crowned by 2019 Winter Carnival Archbishop Michael Navarra, followed by Griffin and Hickey.

This year’s pages put on a dance number — Finn Maiore landed a baby freeze after top-rocking and a six-step. A couple of dinosaurs crashed a performance by the high schoolers of the Court. The Saranac Lake High School jazz band provided music, wowing the crowd with solos and duets.

Winter Carnival Committee Chairman Jeff Branch presented the Katie Morgan Fobare Service Award to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Don Duso Award to Garrett Foster, and the Trudeau Award to Debbie Miner.

Guys in the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Court do a dance routine at Coronation Friday night. (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)

Ed McCarthy, left, and Ron Keough lead a procession of past kings and queens into the Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium during Friday night’s Coronation, which launches the annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)

Past royalty of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival gather Thursday night at the Red Fox Restaurant. From left in the front row sit Jeff Branch (king 2014), Victoria Smith (princess 2018), Clyde Baker (K-2018), Nancy LaBombard (Q-2018) and Janet Simkins (Q-2008). In the second row sit Bob McIntyre (K-1984), Ed McCarthy (K-1983), Shirley Hosler (Q-1994), Bud Duffy (K-2002), Dorothy Metz (Q-2014) and Natalie Leduc (Q-1951). In the third row stand Anita Meserole (Q-2017), Beryl Szwed (Q-2000), Jessica Deeb (archbishop 2002), Carol Reyell (Q-2010), Frank Camelo (K-2010), Donna Dora (Q-2004), Cheri Fischer (Q-2011), Ruth Sofield (Q-2005) and Kelly Morgan-Duprey (Q-2012). In the back row stand Steve Racette (K-2015), Cherrie Racette (Q-2013), Rip Allen (K-2005), Ray Dora (K-2004), John Wamsganz (K-2017), Wayne Newman (K-2003), Jim Bishop (K-1993), Ron Keough (K-1986) and Brendan Keough (2016). (Photo provided — Mark Kurtz)

Elena Kuki works to recreate Cro-Magnon art in the style of that found in the caves of Lascaux, France, for a window display in the Left Bank Cafe on Thursday. It’s part of this year’s Saranac Lake Winter Carnival theme, “Prehistoric Park.” (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)