Three-Day Event at Olympic Venues in Lake Placid for LGBTQ+ Community

A new event will bring a three-day weekend of wintertime fun and adventure to LGBTQ+ residents, travelers, and allies in the Adirondacks. The first ever Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend is coming March 7 – 9, 2025, featuring a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages and abilities across the Village of Lake Placid, the Whiteface region, and the region’s historic Olympic venues.

Hosted by the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance (ANCGA) in partnership with I LOVE NY, the Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority), and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), the 2025 Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend will support the LGBTQ+ community with an inclusive weekend that will offer something for everyone, including:

    • A welcome party
    • Downhill skiing for all levels at Whiteface Mountain
    • Cross country skiing on 55km of Olympic trails
    • Ice Skating inside the historic Olympic Center
    • Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships
    • Relaxing shopping and dining on Lake Placid’s charming Main Street
    • Discovering the spirit of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum
    • Music and dancing at Saturday’s après-ski party

Guests are encouraged to register to ensure they receive event updates – additional Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend details will be announced as they are available. Additional information can be found at AdkWinterPride.com.

Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance Executive Director Kelly Metzgar says, “The event promises to be an exciting time to visit this winter sports destination. “This is a great opportunity to bring our LGBTQ+ community, our families, and allies together for a spectacular weekend to enjoy the fun, excitement, splendor and history of our region. Whether enjoying our skiing venues or exploring other local attractions, guests will be making our Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend a “must attend” annual event for years to come.”

The event will be made even more exciting with a special Lake Placid Legacy Sites winter passport available at a discounted rate. With the passport, guests will have access to the welcome party as well as an array of local Olympic venues and attractions. The special passport includes entry to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, indoor ice skating at the Olympic Center, a scenic gondola ride at Whiteface Mountain, and the Skyride gondola and glass elevator ride up the HS 128 ski jump tower at the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the big après-ski party on Saturday night.

Guests of Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend will also be offered special ski lift ticket packages, cross country ski trail passes, tickets for the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation World Championships, and more. Ski lessons and equipment rentals, including skates, will be available, too. Additionally, every Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend guest will receive a free tote-bag with giveaways and other surprises.

ANCGA Executive Director Kelly Metzgar says, “ANCGA is excited to partner with ORDA, ROOST and I LOVE NY to bring winter-time excitement to the Adirondack North Country. This is a great opportunity to bring our regional LGBTQ+ community, our families and allies together for a spectacular weekend to enjoy the fun, excitement, splendor and history of our region. Whether enjoying our skiing venues or exploring other local attractions our area has to offer, guests will be making our Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend a “must attend” annual event for years to come.”

Olympic Authority President & CEO Ashley Walden says, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance, I LOVE NY, and ROOST to launch this unique Winter Pride Weekend. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our Olympic venues and our vibrant community. We look forward to hosting a variety of activities and offering experiences that are truly one-of-a-kind.”

Empire State Development Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi says, “Every year, New York becomes a winter wonderland, with more ski areas than any other state. LGBTQ travelers near and far will enjoy the amenities and slopes at Whiteface Mountain – including the largest vertical drop in the Northeast – plus the thrill of championship bobsledding and the Olympic history and charm of Lake Placid. I LOVE NY LGBTQ is honored to partner for the first-ever Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend, furthering the state’s legacy as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. From skiers of all abilities to Olympic aficionados, to those more interested in enjoying après-ski activities with members of the LGBTQ community, guests attending the weekend are sure to discover how easy it is to love New York in winter.”

ROOST President & CEO Dan Kelleher says the region is proud to welcome everyone who is planning to take part in the first Adirondack Winter Pride Weekend. “The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is always excited to welcome the LGBTQ+ community to our beautiful Adirondack communities. The Lake Placid and Whiteface Regions of Essex County offer unique and diverse experiences that appeal to broad audiences whether one is a first-time visitor or a life-long resident. It’s always an honor to coordinate our efforts to create and host events like this so that more and more people learn about the Adirondacks and experience the hospitality of our area.”

###

About ANCGA

Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance is a 501(c)3 all-volunteer non-profit organization serving Essex, Franklin & Clinton counties in Northeastern NYS. The organization hosts several events each year including Transgender Day of Visibility, Small Town Pride in Malone, NY, Tri-Lakes Pride in Saranac Lake, NY and Adirondack North Country Pride in Plattsburgh, NY. ANCGA also hosts an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event in November. Additionally, ANCGA participates in regional events hosted by our community partners. For organization’s interested in professional training centered on LGBTQIA+ or DEIB topics, ANCGA is available to assist with customized training and educational programs.

About I LOVE NY

New York State is a premier vacation destination with world-class attractions, picturesque natural beauty, locally sourced cuisine and a vibrant craft beverage scene, an array of accommodations, and iconic, year-round festivals and events. Its 11 diverse vacation regions feature some of the world’s top ranked beaches; two out of America’s top three favorite state parks; breathtaking Niagara Falls; more ski areas than any other state; one of the nation’s longest foliage seasons; multiple Halls of Fame; the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States; and the country’s longest multi-use trail. Add in the state’s unique museums, historic landmarks, cultural sites, charming small towns and urban playgrounds, and it’s no wonder New York has been consistently chosen as a top getaway by travel publications and experts. For more information on new developments and other happenings in New York State, visit iloveny.com. Press releases and other media assets can be found online in the press room or on X (formerly Twitter).

About the Olympic Authority

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. The Olympic Authority operates Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore Mountains, Mt Van Hoevenberg, the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the Olympic Center. As host to international, national, regional, and local events, the Olympic Authority’s venues are destinations and economic catalysts of the regions it serves.

About ROOST

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.