International competition, national championships, collegiate hockey, new experiences and signature festivals highlight the 2026 season across the Adirondacks and Catskills
The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) today announced its 2026 fall lineup, featuring international and national competition, collegiate hockey, new and expanded experiences, and signature festivals across its venues in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
New and expanded offerings include Gore Mountain’s North Creek Ski Bowl, where The Station complements scenic skyrides, hiking and biking as part of expanded four-season operations. At Belleayre Mountain, new mountain bike trail connections will link the mountain, Belleayre Beach and the Shandaken Wild Forest. In Lake Placid, the inaugural ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational brings 24 collegiate hockey teams to the Olympic Center for 36 games over four days.
The fall calendar also includes the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season finale at Mt Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface Mountain, the U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships, Whiteface Oktoberfest, Gore Mountain Harvest Fest and two weekends of fall festivities at Belleayre Mountain.
The lineup arrives as the Adirondacks earn renewed national recognition for fall travel. Priceline named the Adirondacks the No. 1 fall foliage destination in the U.S. for 2026, recognition featured by Travel + Leisure, Forbes and Time Out. Condé Nast Traveler has also highlighted the Adirondacks and Lake Placid for fall getaways, while AFAR has recommended Whiteface, Gore and Belleayre among New York destinations for viewing fall foliage.
MAJOR EVENTS THIS FALL
Keys to the Castle Roller Ski Races | Mt Van Hoevenberg & Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway | September 12-13
One of the country’s premier roller ski competitions brings together developing racers and elite Nordic athletes across two Olympic Authority venues. Saturday features freestyle sprint racing at Mt Van Hoevenberg before competitors take on a nearly five-mile climb Sunday on the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway toward the summit of Whiteface.
ACHA Fall Faceoff Invitational | Olympic Center | September 17-20
The American Collegiate Hockey Association brings its inaugural Fall Faceoff Invitational to Lake Placid, with 24 teams representing five men’s and women’s divisions competing in 36 games over four days. Every participating team will compete at least once in the historic 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, pairing collegiate hockey with Lake Placid’s Olympic legacy.
Whiteface Oktoberfest | Whiteface Mountain | September 26-27
Whiteface’s signature fall celebration features Bavarian food and beverages, live music, dancing, more than 45 craft vendors, family activities and scenic Cloudsplitter Gondola rides. The event has previously been recognized by SKI Magazine among North America’s must-visit Oktoberfests.
WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Finale | Mt Van Hoevenberg & Whiteface Mountain | October 2-4
The world’s top mountain bike athletes return to the Adirondacks for the season finale of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. The three-day event features cross-country competition at Mt Van Hoevenberg and downhill racing at Whiteface Mountain, pairing international competition with peak fall color.
Belleayre Fall Festival | Belleayre Mountain | October 3-4 and 10-11
Two weekends of Catskills fall festivities feature live music, more than 75 vendors and food trucks, family activities, hiking, disc golf and scenic rides on the Catskill Thunder Gondola. New biking connections in the surrounding area will expand opportunities to explore the region beyond the mountain.
Gore Mountain Harvest Fest | Gore Mountain | October 10-11
Gore Mountain’s annual Harvest Fest features more than 50 artisan and specialty food vendors, live music, family activities and outdoor recreation during peak foliage season in the southern Adirondacks. Visitors can also experience Gore’s Northwoods Gondola with scenic fall foliage rides as well as explore an expansive network of hiking trails.
Flaming Leaves Festival, featuring the U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships | Olympic Jumping Complex & Mt Van Hoevenberg | October 10-11
The nation’s top ski jumping and Nordic combined athletes compete for U.S. titles at two Olympic Authority venues. Ski jumping competition takes place at the Olympic Jumping Complex, while Nordic combined athletes also compete on the roller loop at Mt Van Hoevenberg. The weekend pairs national championship sport with live music, food, vendors, family activities and Adirondack fall color.
MORE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE FALL
Beyond the event calendar, Olympic Authority venues offer a range of ways to experience fall across the Adirondacks and Catskills.
At Whiteface, visitors can travel the historic Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway to near the summit or take the Cloudsplitter Gondola for expansive views of the surrounding High Peaks. At Gore Mountain, scenic skyrides and the expanded North Creek Ski Bowl experience connect fall recreation with the community of North Creek. At Belleayre, the Catskill Thunder Gondola, hiking, disc golf and biking offer ways to explore the Catskills during foliage season.
Media Contact: Morgan Ryan, [email protected]