SARANAC LAKE — The annual ‘Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race is set for Saturday, May 11.

Hosted by the Northern Forest Canoe Trail with support from over a dozen partners, ‘Round the Mountain Weekend features the traditional Saturday race as well as the Freshet Film Festival, a paddler mixer and a community paddle.

The 10.5-mile race course begins at Ampersand Bay Resort on Lower Saranac Lake, heads west on Lower Saranac to the mouth of the Saranac River across from Bluff Island, then continues downriver with a short carry around the Lower Locks, then to Oseetah Lake before finishing at Riverfront Park on Lake Flower. This year, the NFCT is requiring all racers to preregister online to help event staff ensure that the race proceeds smoothly and on schedule. To register, visit bit.ly/roundthemountainweekend.

Also on May 11, the Freshet Film Festival will showcase paddlesports and outdoor recreation films, hosted at The Waterhole’s Upstairs Music Lounge. Proceeds go toward the NFCT’s stewardship of the 740-mile water trail that connects Old Forge to Fort Kent, Maine. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8. Tickets cost $15 online and $18 at the door; students can purchase tickets for $12 with a valid ID. For tickets, visit bit.ly/freshetsaranaclake.

‘Round the Mountain Weekend includes a paddler mixer on Friday and a community paddle meet-up on Sunday. To learn more, visit bit.ly/roundthemountainweekend.

“Saranac Lake is one of the busiest NFCT trail towns, hosting several of our marquee events and serving as a hub for paddlesports in upstate New York,” said Karrie Thomas, executive director of the NFCT. “The ‘Round the Mountain race is a mainstay of spring in the Adirondacks and this year we’re excited to team with our local partners to add more activities to round out the weekend.”