Those in the Raquette Lake/Long Lake area are gearing up for a weekend jam-packed with an array of festivities for the annual Durant Days celebration slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 5, 6 and 7. The weekend serves as a celebration of the birth of Great Camps Architecture and William West Durant, the creator of this amazing style of architecture. History buffs of all ages are invited to travel back in time to the days when waterways were the highways and travel was by boat. Durant Days features boat tours of Raquette Lake aboard the W.W. Durant, tours of Great Camp Sagamore, a boat parade, live music, a fireworks display, and much more.

Friday, August 5

Take to the water on a replica steamboat, the W.W. Durant, just like those that used to take travelers to the various Great Camps on Raquette Lake. This cruise features a visit to St. Williams Church on Long Point, built by Durant in 1890, visit Great Camp Pine Knot, and enjoy a chef-crafted lunch accompanied by historic narration of the lake’s unique history.

Cruise runs from 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., $73 per person. Contact Raquette Lake Navigation to make reservations.

Saturday, August 6

½ Price Tours at Great Camp Sagamore available for Durant Days Weekend.

2 p.m. Wide Variety, A Capella Group sings on the Village Green in Raquette Lake

The Boat Parade in Raquette Lake kicks off at 6 p.m. Registration forms are available at Burke’s or Birds Marina. This year the theme is … there is no theme. Anything goes! We are looking for Party Barges, Runabouts, No-Octane.. if it floats and it’s a boat, decorate it. Get out on the water and show the classic spirit and tradition of Raquette Lake living. Cash Prizes. Fireworks at dusk.

Spectators can watch the parade and fireworks from the shores of Raquette Lake.

Boat parade on Raquette Lake as part of the Durant Days weekend. Facebook photo.

Sunday, August 7

½ Price Tours at Great Camp Sagamore available for Durant Days Weekend.

Tour Great Camp Sagamore, created in 1897 by W. W. Durant and summer home to the Vanderbilt family for half a century.

Tours consist of a short slide show, followed by a 1.5-hour walking tour of the camp complex, including key buildings in the upper complex and lower complex, for a full length of about two hours. Guests will have the opportunity to peek inside a piece of living history where they will see the worker’s village, including the schoolhouse, the iconic  Lodge, and see how Great Camp life was truly lived.

Please note that the walking tour of the camp includes walking on gravel roads and staircases. The upper complex is handicap accessible for persons with limited mobility.

The Durant Days weekend also features 1/2 price tours of Great Camp Sagamore. Photo provided by the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks

For more information about Durant Days, please contact Long Lake Events at 518-624-3077 or check out www.mylonglake.com.

Durant Days is sponsored by the Town of Long Lake and the Central Adirondack Association.

Photo at top: Durant Days  W.W. Durant boat tours. Adirondack.net website photo.