Dan Reilly is the 2022 Winter Carnival King. (Photo provided — Aggie Pelletieri)

SARANAC LAKE — The 2022 Winter Carnival king and queen — Dan Reilly and Martha Watts — were crowned at a coronation ceremony Friday evening.

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King Dan Reilly

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Reilly was born in Plattsburgh and raised in Saranac Lake.

He may be recognized for the large Winter Carnival parade floats he works on with others from Rumble Carpentry and HomEnergy Services — giant cupids, Mighty Mouse, aliens and dragons.

He could be known through his work on the St. Bernard’s School, Pendragon Theatre boards, or as a longtime member of the local Kiwanis Club, where he spent several years as its president.

Maybe he’s known for work on the Saranac Lake Civic Center or for organizing fundraisers. Reilly raises money for the Pat Stratton Memorial Bicycle Ride; helped organize Heat-A-Palooza, a concert raising money for heating assistance; works on the bike rodeo for kids to get helmets and learn bike safety, and has taken part in the Tour de Force, raising money for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Reilly said his nomination for Carnival king came as a surprise and an honor. He was asked by the people who told him he was nominated if he would accept it.

“I guess I’d be as dumb to say ‘yes’ as I would to say ‘no,'” Reilly said with a laugh.

Reilly said he didn’t get into volunteering for the accolades. He said his work all happened “organically.” Friends would ask him to join boards and groups, he’d learn of new groups to work with or people to assist through these groups. One thing would lead to another and suddenly he was working on numerous projects, boards and events.

He kept seeing areas of need and working to help meet those needs. But he doesn’t view himself as particularly altruistic.

“I’m as selfish as the next person,” Reilly said.

He points out that he’s just one of the many people working on these projects and groups.

Reilly said the “glory” of the Saranac Lake community is a group effort.

The community’s been there for him and his family through all times of life, and he said he feels compelled to give back to it.

“This community’s given me a lot,” Reilly said, letting the tears flow. “You know, my brother just died. I just cry easily these days. The community gave him a lot.”

He said community is a conduit for giving and getting.

“If people don’t give to it, then you don’t have it,” he said.

He didn’t always have a lot of money, but he always gave his time.

He’s passionate about the issues that plague the community — water quality, housing, jobs and poverty. He’s especially zealous about helping children.

Reilly fondly remembers his years as “head elf” for Christmas gift giveaways at the town hall. He recalls driving a truck with Santa and all the gifts to the town hall and seeing over 100 kids excitedly bouncing around outside.

“It’s bringing a tear to my eye now,” Reilly said.

Reilly said his goal as king is to go to as many events as possible, especially the ones with the kids.

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Queen Martha Watts

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Watts feels “truly honored” to be the Winter Carnival queen.

“It’s kind of a life dream,” Watts said. “We live in the best place there is with more volunteer spirit than I’ve seen anyplace.”

Anyone who’s seen an Ice Palace in the past two decades has read her work. She’s the one who writes the Carnival theme in colorful slush letters on the front wall every year.

Watts has been working on building the Ice Palace since 1990. She’s been in charge of putting up the lettering on the walls since 1995. She was married to her late husband David at the Ice Palace.

Watts was born in Brooklyn, raised on Long Island, and has lived here for 47 years.

She came up to study forestry recreation at Paul Smith’s College in 1975 and immediately fell in love with Saranac Lake. She said she learned a lot there, sure, but the associations she made became life-long friends.

“Paul Smith’s truly, truly gave me my life up here,” Watts said.

When she saw her first Carnival during college, she was stunned.

“I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Watts said. “We know how to make our own fun. … The rest of the world, what I’ve seen of it, isn’t quite like us.”

Watts is always busy around Winter Carnival. This year, she’s wondering if she bit off more than she could chew. But she’s plowing forward and getting it all done.

Her interview with the Enterprise on Friday afternoon was broken up into several segments because she was so busy. She had just come from setting up Arctic Golf holes. While on the phone, she moved the large icicle she’s saving for the Heat Keepers icicle contest to a safe space in the snow. She got a call from a houseguest coming over to help with the PSC Booster Club Chocolate Festival. After the interview, she was going to eat some lunch — at 4:30 p.m. — and get ready to be crowned that evening.

She likes staying busy.

“It makes life more fun,” Watts said. “You get to meet a lot of people and you get to serve the community.”

Watts said she was raised to volunteer. She was a Girl Scout and a member of an active church. She said her mother demonstrated service, and had Watts tag along everywhere she went to help people.

She’s helped organize the ALPO dog sled races, 90-Miler canoe races, Girl Scouts and the restoration of the PSC stagecoach.

She’s volunteered at Adirondack Medical Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, Salvation Army, and, of course, the Ice Palace Workers Local 101.

She’s a deacon with the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake, a member of the PSC Alumni Association Board and treasurer for the Paul Smith’s College Booster Club.

Watts believes Winter Carnival is an important event for the village. It brings visitors and business in during the quiet winter months; it brings people together in a time when the weather can be isolating; and it’s a time to neighbors to recognize the needs of others and leverage the energy of Carnival to help them.

As queen, Watts plans to attend as many events as she can get to and she looks forward to seeing the parade from a different viewpoint.