By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-998576.mp3
Saranac Lake, NY – In its January-February 2012 issue, the travel magazine offers a top ten list of winter carnivals around the world. It includes Sapporo, Japan, which brings 2 million people to their event and St. Paul, Minnesota's more than century old festival. But neither ranked as high as the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Listed at number 2, behind only Anchorage, Alaska, the publication pointed to the annual ice palace as the centerpiece of the event. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Chair Jeff Dickson says it's an all volunteer effort with no admission. Village of Saranac Lake Mayor Clyde Rabideau says the community has also been featured twice in the New York Times this year. To illustrate their top ten winter carnivals, National Geographic Traveler used a photograph of fireworks exploding behind and above Saranac Lake's Ice Palace. Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism President Jim McKenna believes this exposure in a national publication will be beneficial for the entire Adirondack region. Saranac Lake's 114th Winter Carnival will be held Feb. 3 to 12.