Fall Events: Olympic Venues Lake Placid boasts the distinction of...
Read MoreFall Events: Olympic Venues
Lake Placid boasts the distinction of hosting two Olympic Winter Games, first in 1932 and again in 1980. These historic venues, collectively known as the Lake Placid Legacy Sites, include the Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mt Van Hoevenberg, and Whiteface Mountain—all legendary landmarks in their own right.
Today, these iconic venues stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Games—welcoming and inspiring visitors from around the world, hosting unforgettable competitions and events of all sizes, and serving as premier recreation destinations and world-class training grounds across a wide variety of sports.
All four of the Legacy Sites have an event this fall. Keep reading to see an overview of the events, then book your stay and come enjoy fall with us at the Olympic Venues!
Oktoberfest
Whiteface Mountain
Saturday, September 27: 10:30am – 6:00pm
Sunday, September 28: 10:30am – 5:00pm
Live entertainment starts at 11am both days
Dust off our lederhosen, it’s time to fire up the oompah band and enjoy a tall mug of German beer at the Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest!
This weekend-long, Bavarian-style celebration is filled with authentic music, dancing, food, and beer. Whiteface Mountain’s Oktoberfest has been rated one of the 5 Must-Visit Oktoberfests in North America by SKI Magazine!
Oktoberfest is a family-friendly event with activities for all ages, including craft vendors, pumpkin painting, kids’ entertainment, bounce houses, scenic gondola rides, and more!
This year’s Oktoberfest will feature music by headliners die Schlauberger in the Main Entertainment Tent, The Adlers, Schachtelgebirger Musikanten (Scha-Musi) in the Cloudspin Bar & Grill, the 3 Alphorns, and the Alpenland Taenzer dancers.
Things to note:
• The Cloudsplitter Gondola is a popular part of Oktoberfest, and it’s recommended that you take the Scenic Gondola Ride earlier in the day, as lines can get longer in the afternoon.
• Credit cards will be accepted at all food and drink locations outside, cash and credit cards will be accepted at all food and drink locations inside.
WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
Whiteface Mountain & Mt.Van Hoevenberg
Friday, October 3: 8:30am-5pm (WM) | 9am-5:30pm (MVH)
Saturday, October 4: 9am-2pm (WM) | 9am-12pm (MVH)
Sunday, October 5: 9:30am – 4pm (MHV)
Get ready for another epic weekend of World Cup Races loaded with pedal-pumping, heart-pounding action and festivities!
The WHOOP 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Series returns to Lake Placid, NY, from October 3–5, and this year it’s supercharged with the debut of Downhill! Feel the gravity as world-class riders drop into the steep, wild slopes of Whiteface Mountain, just feet away from where you’re standing. Watch them grind through brutal terrain at breakneck speeds, launching off features with raw power and precision at Mt Van Hoevenberg.
This is no sidelines-only event—spectators will be “on course”, just feet away from the action as elite riders race by in a high-octane blur of mud, muscle, and adrenaline. But the rush doesn’t stop when the wheels do. Between and after races, groove to live music, craft brews, local cuisine, and high-energy festival vibes all weekend long. Don’t miss it—get your tickets now and witness for yourself where legends are made and miracles happen.
BETA Bike Jam
James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval
Friday, October 3: 6pm – 7:30pm
The BETA Community Bike Jam will bring the excitement of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series to Main Street, Lake Placid! Event highlights of this free community celebration include:
- Krusher Stunt Show: Witness tricks and stunts performed by elite BMX athletes.
- Athlete Meet & Greets: Engage with UCI teams and competitors. Get an autograph and check out their bikes.
- Live Entertainment: A women-led samba reggae drumline from New York City, Fogo Azul’s electrifying performance is sure to have you dancing.
- Kids’ Skills Park: Bring the kids’ bikes and let them try out some family-friendly features!
World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
1932 Jack Shea Arena
Thursday, October 9 – Sunday, October 12: see schedule for timing
The World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships (WFFSC) connects figure skating with art in unique and meaningful ways.
With skating performances on black ice, these World Championships offer a blend of skating and the art of the fancy, artistic figures created on the ice by skaters’ blades.
A little history moment: Within it, the words “Figures” and “Fancy Skating” are the historically accurate, original terms for artistic (or freestyle or free) skating and the figures (or patterns) that were a component of figure skating in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These terms and performances are both a professional skating legacy that originated in this Belle Epoque of skating as reflected in the designs of jewels and art of this period.
Since its much-celebrated debut in Lake Placid in 2015, the World Figure Sport Society (WFSS) has served to elevate the art of skating by uniting it with fine arts, with music and the performing arts, with decorative arts, and the art of jewelry. This amazing event also includes, as central features, the following components:
- a fine decorative art and recording art exhibit
- a day of practice and filming of competitors and their works on black ice
- lessons and workshops for skaters of all levels
- a day of accessible family skating that welcomes people of all abilities
- a Saturday finals competition
- a fancy Sunday evening ball that blends the event’s historical aspects with modernity
- Tiffany Awards, bestowing jeweled antique skate blades to winners
All these components of WFFSC together are the legacies of Sonja Henie’s extravagant ice shows and Dick Button’s professional competitions, which are what make Lake Placid such a befitting home for this event.
Flaming Leaves
Olympic Jumping Complex
Saturday, October 11: 9am-5pm
Sunday, October 12: 9am-5pm
This year’s Flaming Leaves Festival will feature a vibrant mix of local color, live music, crafts, food, and beer vendors, plus fun for the whole family. Oh, and it’s the US Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships! You’ll be dancing to live music as elite ski jumpers soar overhead, framed by the stunning backdrop of peak foliage.
With food by Porkbusters, Polish Korner, and the Dog Father, plus live music, facepainting with Rainbow Sue, a LoonWorks magic show, caricature artist, and more, you won’t want to miss this fall favorite event!
Save with a Passport!
Experience More EVENTS and save more with the Passport!
Save by bundling some of the most popular activities with the Legacy Sites Passport — your pass to an unforgettable experience at all four Legacy Sites.
Plus, enjoy exclusive perks, including free one-day admission to select special events:
September 27 – 28 | Whiteface Oktoberfest
October 3 – 5 | UCI Mountain Bike World Series
October 11 – 12 | Flaming Leaves Festival
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