The king and queen selection is based upon volunteerism within the community. Candidates should demonstrate a long-term and broad-based commitment to making life more livable, pleasant, and enjoyable — both for the people who live here and for those who visit. The volunteer activities can be organized or completely self-motivated. They can be as diverse as organizing a major community event or as seemingly minor as shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk. The committee is seeking people who help others independently, not people who are in professions that help or care for others.

Each nomination should include:

1. Why you are nominating this person.

2. All volunteerism for your nominee

3. Your nominee’s contact information

4. Your signature

Each nomination should be submitted separately.

It is very important that nominations are received no later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Nominations received after this date will not be considered.

Nominations should be mailed to: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee: Attention: King/Queen Nomination, P.O. Box 829, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

Nominations can also be dropped off at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise (54 Broadway), or the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (39 Main Street). No electronic nominations (e-mail) will be accepted. Those with questions about the nomination process should contact Nancy Heath 518-637-1228 or Patti Ploof 518-354-3257. Once the nominations have been collected, the previous king’s and queen’s will select the new king and queen from the nominations. All nominations are presented exactly as they are received — no alterations are made to the nominations. The assembled kings and queens are given a period of time to review the materials and then are called upon to vote. The final selection is made by secret ballot and the king and queen are announced on the first day of winter carnival at the royalty coronation ceremony.

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee, formally known as the Society for Preservation of Winter Carnival, Saranac Lake, Inc., is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization of volunteers dedicated to planning and presenting an annual mid-winter festival. The carnival honors its heritage every year by building an ice palace from blocks of ice harvested from Lake Flower’s Pontiac Bay, where carnival events have been traditionally held for generations.

For more information, visit the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival website at www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com. The 2026 Winter Carnival will take place Feb. 6-15.