Whether it was a chainsaw juggling human contortionist, stand-up comedy, improv, skating, carousel rides, bubble shows, fire dancing, several live bands, dance lessons, a kids’ carnival, ice skating, games, a spectacular fireworks display or, of course, unlimited hot chocolate — there was no shortage of family-fun events around the capital of the Adirondacks.

And the numbers showed. The town bustled all evening long, as North Country New Year-goers made their way between venues, many of which were within walking distance of each other. People line danced in unison at the Dance Sanctuary. They had their jaws dropped in the Harrietstown Town Hall as Alakazam (aka Alan Millar) managed to slip his body through unstrung squash and tennis racquets.

Folks were serenaded, sometimes sang along and even danced the night away to Frankie and the Moonlighters, Grammy-nominated Professor Louie and the Crowmatrix, the Allens and Ms. Rebecca and Friends. People burst out in laughter at standing-room-only comedy shows at the Saranac Lake Free Library and First United Methodist Church Of Saranac Lake.

Kids were grinning ear to ear as Jeff Boyer’s Big Bubble Bonanza took over Petrova Elementary. Boyer wanded 5-foot-tall soapy columns up and around anyone who wanted to step foot in the bubble ring. One room over, Scotto the Balloon Wizard, caricature artist Joe Ferris, face painter Rainbow Sue, Circus with Sammy and the Adirondack Sky Center’s mobile Starlab kept kids bouncing from station to station, soaking in the fun.

The Allens play at St. Luke’s Church Wednesday evening in Saranac Lake as part of North Country New Year. From left, Shamim Allen, Bill Chamberlain and Billy Allen. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Now in its third iteration, North Country New Year took over from First Night, which began in 2006, and gave way to the current event after a multi-year hiatus around the coronavirus pandemic. First Night was formed when a group of locals came to a collective realization — there weren’t a whole lot of New Year’s events in the Tri-Lakes — and they wanted to do something about it.

Peter Crowley recalled one of his first New Year’s Eves when he moved to Saranac Lake. He, a small group of friends and his girlfriend at the time (now wife) got all fancied up for the holiday and went out to one of the local establishments looking for a celebration. Instead, they found a scene that one might expect on any other night.

There was some casual pool, and a group of 10 or so regulars around the bar. Crowley said that miraculously, someone remembered to count down from 10 around midnight, there were a few cheers, then it was back to business as usual. It was also one of the slowest nights around town. Crowley said many restaurants at the time would close down early and send their staff home due to a lack of business.

The volunteers had a bolder vision, and saw an opportunity to turn it into a special, unique night of fun for the whole family. Almost two decades later, Crowley smiled as he made his way through town, seeing hotel parking lots full, and hearing from several restaurants that it had become one of their busiest nights of the year. Throughout his numerous years as a volunteer, he’s usually had to stand by at a particular venue helping out with one thing or another most of the night. This year, though, the stations were all set for the most part, and he was able to make the rounds, seeing the magical evening play out in its entirety.

“I’ve really gotten to see the whole festival and people are so happy, they’re having so much fun,” he said. “And I have been really soaking it in, too. So I am really feeling good about this.”

Stand-up comedian Moody McCarthy performs at the Saranac Lake Free Library Wednesday evening as part of North Country New Year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Saranac Lake is an active community, Crowley said, and North Country New Year gets a lot of local families out year over year. It also brings people to Saranac Lake for the evening — both North Country residents from surrounding communities and tourists visiting the region for the holidays from as far away as Texas and Florida.

Ben Letsch grew up in the area and his parents live in Onchiota. He now lives in Houston and comes up each year. He said his favorite part is something that he doesn’t see a lot of at home.

“Snow,” he said. “That’s a big one. And we’ve had a good year for that. It’s nice to get away, reconnect with nature, all the things you can’t do in a big city.”

The Klocke family was visiting from Tampa. They also wanted to spend the holidays in a small-town backdrop in a place not only with a lot of snow this year, but one whose legacy is largely premised on it. They were staying in Lake Placid and spent much of the week touring the Olympic venues, but Kyleen Klocke said she, her husband and two children decided to make their way over to Saranac Lake for New Year’s Eve after seeing all of the different activities here that evening.

It was the first North Country New Year for Lauren Piscitelli and her family, who were visiting from Buffalo.

Jeff Boyer, left, cracks a joke with the crowd as he gets ready to wand a large bubble over Finlay Greene and Walter Reusch at Petrova Elementary School Wednesday evening during his Big Bubble Bonanza show as part of North Country New Year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“It was excellent,” she said. “We saw this online, and it’s been great. You could get your fill of hot chocolate — as much as you could ever want. And lots of neat things.”

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It takes a village

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Suffice it to say, an event of this caliber can’t be put together overnight, or a couple weeks in advance. Between finalizing the venues, booking the performers, organizing the day-of volunteers and getting the word out — the work starts in July. It has to.

The Klocke Family smiles at the Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake during the North Country New Year celebration. From left, Kevin, Kyleen, Miles and Kenley. The Klockes were visiting the Adirondacks from Tampa, Florida for the holiday week, and made the trip over to Saranac Lake from Lake Placid, where they were staying, to take part in the New Year’s festivities. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Crowley said that as much fun as everyone has that evening, it can be difficult to rally support for the advanced planning. He said it’s only down to a few year-round volunteers, and the event is, unfortunately, on thin ice right now.

“It’s an endangered thing,” he said. “It already died once before because there weren’t enough board members, and it’s in danger of that happening again.”

Crowley said they’re in urgent need of year-round volunteers, and anyone interested in helping out next year can find information on the event’s website at tinyurl.com/36h2mywt or by emailing fellow North Country New Year board member and Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christine Farah at director@slareachamber.org.

“It’s such a special event,” Farah said. “You don’t really hear about it too much until it’s kind of approaching — and then everyone is like, ‘I need it, need it, need it!’ People remember what First Night was like, and they just continue to come back. We have unbelievable performers that come every year. The venues are amazing to work with.”

She said that when it comes to volunteering, there’s something for everyone, and they need people with all different sorts of strengths and skill sets.

A standing-room-only crowd laughs during a comedy performance by the Completely Stranded improv group at the Methodist Church Wednesday evening in Saranac Lake as part of North Country New Year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“It’s a really great way to be involved in the community,” she said. “You just see how much people enjoy getting together for something so fun to end the year in Saranac Lake, even on a frigid cold night.”

Farah said that organizers were still working to determine how many tickets were sold, as there were advance sales online, as well as a flurry of day-of ticket purchases. That will take some time, she said, but noted that there were about 1,400 people between four of the event venues, including the Adirondack Carousel, Petrova Elementary, the Saranac Lake Civic Center and the Harrietstown Town Hall. Given that there were seven other venues, Farah said this figure is almost certainly an underestimate of the event’s total draw.

Farah was proud that organizers and event sponsors are able to keep the costs in check. With tickets $20 in advance or $25 day-of tickets for adults, $15 for seniors and kids under 18 getting in for free, she said it’s an evening that all families are able to come together and enjoy.

“It’s a fairly low cost for a large family, especially with kids under 18 being free,” she said. “To get into 20 different events for the night, and then you’re home earlier than midnight — you can’t do much better than that.”

The Lake Placid-based Smoke Show Fire Co. smiles in Riverside Park in Saranac Lake on Wednesday evening after finishing a performance as part of North Country New Year. From left, Jess Kamezza, Sammy Yelle and Zoe Brown. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Alakazam (aka Alan Millar) of Sydney, Australia, performs a trick where he manages to squeeze his body through an unstrung squash racket at the Harrietstown Town Hall on Wednesday evening as part of North Country New Year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

The Plattsburgh-based “Completely Stranded” improv comedy troupe performs at the First United Methodist Church Of Saranac Lake to a standing-room-only crowd on Wednesday evening as part of North Country New Year. From left, Andy Ducharme, Merritt Billiter and Jason Borrie. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Adler Reusch smiles as a bubble is wanded over him by Jeff Boyer at the Petrova Elementary School Wednesday evening, during Boyer’s Big Bubble Bonanza show, part of North Country New Year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)