The 2023 Winter Carnival button

SARANAC LAKE — Tomorrow is the Ides of March, a Roman holiday marking the middle of the month and the end of Julius Caesar’s life. But today, March 14, marks the beginning of the search for next year’s Winter Carnival theme.

The Winter Carnival Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Elks Lodge at 30 Bloomingdale Ave. to begin pitching ideas for the 2024 theme.

The Carnival theme selection process is open to the public. Anyone who attends the meetings can pitch an idea and have a vote, as well as participate in the deliberations.

This year’s theme — Roman Around Carnival — was a suggestion of Ice Palace builder and designer Chris Grimone, who pitched the idea last year in an 11th-hour proposal.

Winter Carnival Committee Secretary Nancy LaBombard said the committee will convene again on April 18 to take a final vote on the theme.

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List of previous Carnival themes since 1966

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2023: Roman Around Carnival

2022: Totally ’80s

2021: Masquerade

2020: Myths and Legends

2019: Prehistoric Park

2018: Adirondack Festival

2017: Adirondack Wildlife

2016: Superheroes and Villains

2015: The Groovy ’60s

2014: Celtic Carnival

2013: Under the Sea

2012: Space Alien Invasion

2011: Medieval Times

2010: Adirondack Cowboy

2009: Pirates of the Adirondacks

2008: Hooray for Hollywood

2007: Fabulous Fifties

2006: The Roaring ’20s

2005: Adirondack Aloha

2004: Carnival Time

2003: Mardi Gras

2002: United in the Mountains

2001: Do the Locomotion

2000: Boogie Down Broadway

1999: All-America City

1998: Magical Memories

1997: Surfin’ the Century

1996: Music in the Mountains

1995: Hurray for the Holidays

1994: Sister City Celebration

1993: Hearts and Hugs

1992: Saranac Lake’s First Century

1991: Cabin Fever

1990: Carnival of Commercials

1989: Carnival Round-Up

1988: Storyland

1987: Cupid’s Carnival

1986: The Enchanted Village

1985: Magical Kingdom

1984: Once Upon A Time in Saranac Lake

1983: Cartoon Carnival

1982: Mardi Gras

1981: Historic Saranac Lake

1980: Parade of Nations

1979: Carnival Dreams

1978: Toyland

1977: Anything Goes

1976: Magic Moments in American History

1975: Funtasia

1974: 150 Years of Progress

1973: Remember When

1972: Diamond Jubilee

1971: Our Town

1970: Circus Time

1969: Anniversary Time

1968: Fairy Tale Festival

1967: Holiday Time

1966: Song Time in Saranac Lake