By Adele Burnett, Inlet Tourism Director

This year’s Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event is slated for Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 24-26 in Inlet and Old Forge. The annual event will feature an array of family-friendly activities including (but not limited to) a candy cane hunt, a Holiday pet parade, ceramic ornament painting, a stuffed animal workshop, a paint ‘n sip, a free concert by Trevor Gordon Hall, parades, tree lighting ceremonies, holiday sales, scavenger hunts, drop boxes for letters to Santa, and much more.

As part of Adirondack Christmas on Main Street, many of Inlet’s stores will be open for shoppers all weekend. Be sure to bring your receipts from these stores dated November 24-26, 2023 to the Inlet Information Office. For every $10 spent in Town of Inlet (or at a business outside of Inlet that is a paid IABA member,) you will receive one free raffle ticket. At the end of the weekend, one lucky person will take home a basket full of items donated by local businesses.

Activities happening all weekend in Inlet include a book sale at the Inlet Public Library, make & take activity and free popcorn at Greg Rudd’s Pottery Studio, free watercolor coloring sheets at the ArtHouse at the WareHouse, ACE’s Thanksgiving Day Sale at the Inlet Department Store, a Scavenger Hunt throughout Inlet, and a drop box for letters to Santa at the Inlet Town Hall.

On Friday & Saturday (check schedule for times): There will be Ceramic Ornament Painting and a Holiday Pottery Sale at View Arts Center [in Old Forge.] Great Pines will have Christmas movies playing and they will also have a free Hot Cocoa Bar & Christmas Cookie Decorating. The Old Forge Library will be giving away Holiday Craft & Activity Bags and their Used Book Mart will be open.
On Friday, the Inlet Department Store will their In-Store Scavenger Hunt with free popcorn, cocoa, and coffee. Old Forge will have their Light Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Most of the excitement in Inlet takes place on Saturday:
Mountain & Main [gift shop] will have a bonfire going from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will have Paula’s cookies and an ornament-making station. Curt Osgood will also return there to play on his hammered dulcimer with Annie Simpson on guitar from noon to 2 p.m.

The Inlet Youth Commission will host their Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Inlet Town Hall. An assortment of plush animals ready for stuffing will be available for purchase. Once stuffed, make a wish upon a rainbow star before tucking it safely inside your new friend. All come with a birth certificate, and outfits are available at an additional cost.

At 12:30 p.m. Arrowhead Park will be swarmed with children looking for hidden candy canes around the playground and ball field during Inlet’s 21st annual Candy Cane Hunt. After they have found their allotted number of candy canes (compliments of the Inlet Department Store) and collected their prize, they are invited into the Inlet Town Hall where the Inlet Youth Commission will have hot cocoa and popcorn ready for them. There will also be face painting and holiday movies playing on the large screen television and a drop box for letters to Santa.

Two dogs don holiday coats during a previous Holiday Pet Parade in Inlet. Photo provided by Inlet Tourism Director Adele Burnett.

Grow Brewery will hold a Tap Takeover at Screamen Eagle from 1 to 5 p.m. with samples, sales & giveaways, and Screamen Eagle will offer lots of cheeses to sample from 3 to 5 p.m.

At 2 p.m., The Strand Theatre of Old Forge will hold a free concert by Trevor Gordon Hall.

Inlet continues their search for a holiday pie to be proud of. Bake your favorite pie and bring it in to the Senior Room in the Inlet Town Hall at 2:15 p.m. to share with other pie lovers and we will all determine which pie can be called “Inlet’s Best.”

Dress your pet in their holiday best and parade with us through town at 4 p.m. The parade starts at the parking lot between the Church of the Lakes and St. Anthony’s. (Be sure to sign in with Brittany during the line up.) The parade ends at the Inlet Town Hall where we will ask all to pose for a group photo. Treats for all canine participants will be provided by Ruff Road Pet Accessories and prizes will be given to a few of the “best dressed.”

JoAnn Meneilly and Gordy Rudd will be doing the honor of lighting the town tree for us this year. Jill Marsh will again lead us in caroling before we light the tree. Afterwards, everyone is invited into the Town Hall for a visit with Santa and treats, including the famous Rudd Santa cookies.

On Sunday, join us at Screamen Eagle [restaurant] at 3 p.m. for a Paint ‘n Sip. This year we will be painting on pottery again with Amy Williams that you will be able to take home, same day. The cost is $50, which includes all materials and one complimentary drink. There is limited seating available, so preregistration is required by contacting the Inlet Information Office at info@inletny.com or (315) 357-5501.

Screamen Eagle will also be hosting a Happy Hour with half price drinks from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and at 5:30 p.m. the winner of the Holiday Basket Raffle will be drawn and so will the winner of the Inlet Volunteer Emergency Services [IVES] Quilt Raffle.

For a list of open shops, an updated schedule, and a list of what’s in the Holiday Basket go to InletChristmasonMainStreet.com.

Photo at top: Pups pack into a festive wagon for a previous Holiday Pet Parade in Inlet. Photo provided by Inlet Tourism Director Adele Burnett.