Fa-La-La-Local: Your Guide to Holiday Shopping Events in the Adirondacks

There's a certain kind of magic in a small Adirondack town in December. Fresh snow on the mountain peaks, wreaths and sparkling lights on the lampposts, and cozy shops full of gifts with a distinctly local flavor. Holiday gift giving is something truly special and shopping for those gifts in the Adirondacks is something not to be missed. There's nothing quite like holding a handmade treasure, chatting with the maker who crafted it, and sharing the joy of the season.

Here in the Adirondacks, we take our holidays — and our holiday shopping — seriously! All season long, our communities roll out the welcome mat with holiday markets, craft fairs, downtown strolls, and shop specials, all set against a backdrop of six million acres of winter wonderland. Whether you're planning a day trip to check everyone off your list or a full weekend getaway wrapped in twinkle lights, we know just the place.

While you travel and find unique goodies, tag us on social media! Use #ShopADK to show off the cool items you found. #ShopADK is one of the ways we celebrate the local hospitality, inspiration, and personal touches that make shopping local so special.

From Thanksgiving weekend through mid-December 2026, here's where — and when — to find the best holiday shopping in the Adirondacks, town by wonderful town.

Country Christmas Tour | November 27 – 28 | Indian Lake

Some gifts just feel like the Adirondacks — and you'll find them in Indian Lake. The two-day Country Christmas Tour celebrates all things "Made in the Adirondacks," with local arts and holiday gifts taking center stage. Wander the craft fair at the Indian Lake School, try your hand at wreath making, and enjoy family activities that turn shopping into a full day of festive fun. 

Adirondack Christmas on Main Street | November 27 – 29 | Inlet

The holiday season kicks off in earnest in Inlet, where Adirondack Christmas on Main Street turns this little hamlet into a storybook scene. Downtown shops are decked out for the season, offering specials that make checking off your gift list a genuine pleasure. Between purchases, linger for refreshments, activities, visits with Santa, and a tree lighting that brings the whole community together. It's the perfect post-Thanksgiving tradition: stretch your legs, sip something warm, and browse to your heart's content.

Holiday Stroll | November 27 | Speculator

Why fight the Black Friday crowds at the mall when you can stroll a charming Adirondack small town instead? Speculator's all-day Holiday Stroll invites you to shop Black Friday deals at local businesses around town — no big-box chaos required. A holiday market at Lake Pleasant Central School rounds out the offerings, and as the day winds down, caroling and a tree lighting send everyone home glowing with holiday happiness. It's small-town holiday shopping at its absolute best.

North Country Christmas | November 28 – December 8 | Ticonderoga

Ticonderoga stretches the holiday cheer across nearly two weeks during North Country Christmas, with local shopping and dining specials running daily throughout town. Make it your home base for gift hunting, and you'll find the deals keep on giving. But be sure to circle Saturday, December 5, on your calendar: that's when the Ticonderoga Area Farmers Market hosts its special Holiday Market as part of the town's Holiday Shopping & Dining Night. Vendors set up inside the TACC office with an array of local products, gifts, and raffles — the perfect one-stop shop for genuinely Adirondack presents.

Sparkle Village Craft Fair and Sale | December 4 – 5 | Saranac Lake

For 40 years, the first weekend of December has meant one thing in Saranac Lake: Sparkle Village (endearingly known to some of the older locals as "Sparkle Christmas"). This beloved craft fair at the Harrietstown Town Hall is a cherished tradition for finding unique and distinctive holiday gifts and one-of-a-kind treasures from local makers and vendors. There's a special thrill to discovering a gift here that no one else on your list will be giving — something crafted with skill and love, and found in the heart of this decidedly different region. Admission is just $3 for adults and free for children under 12, so bring the whole crew and make an afternoon of it, but be sure to show up hungry: baked goods, chocolate, and more are usually for sale, too!

Tupper Lake Holiday Stroll | December 4 – 6 | Tupper Lake

Tupper Lake's community-wide Holiday Stroll is three days of festive, family-friendly fun with shopping at its heart. Unique shopping opportunities are woven together with magical holiday light displays, art shows, entertainment, and appearances from Santa Claus himself. Stroll from shop to restaurant to lights display, and you'll understand why this celebration has earned a permanent spot on the December calendar. Come for the gifts, stay for the glow.

Christmas in the Forks | December 5 | Au Sable Forks

Step back into an old-fashioned Yuletide celebration in downtown Au Sable Forks, a small but mighty destination. Christmas in the Forks combines a vendor fair brimming with local goods, live music, family activities, a meet-and-greet with Santa, fireworks, and the Forks Holiday Light-Up Parade winding through town in a river of color and cheer. See Santa, ladies dancing with lawn chairs... it's a memorable event that will fill your stockings and stay in your memories for a long time.

Christmas in Schroon Lake | December 11 – 12 | Schroon Lake

Christmas in Schroon Lake is a festive, family-oriented celebration, and honestly, we challenge you to find a holiday activity it doesn't include. There's a polar plunge for the brave, a festival of trees, a basket raffle, a craft show, live music, strolling carolers, a family ornament hunt, a mocktail party, a decorating contest, horse and wagon rides, a tree lighting ceremony, and a holiday lights parade. Whew. Between it all, you'll find wonderful local shopping to knock out your gift list.

Holiday Village Stroll | December 11 – 13 | Lake Placid

Round out your holiday shopping season with a Lake Placid tradition. Set in the fairy-tale winter wonderland of this two-time Olympic host city, the Holiday Village Stroll spans three delightful days for families and couples alike. Yes, you can shop — Main Street's boutiques and shops are at their coziest and most festive — but there's also a skating party, photos with Santa, a free movie showing, and a scavenger hunt that turns the whole village into your playground. Shop by day, stroll by twinkle light, and you'll understand why this weekend has become such a beloved annual event.

The Adirondacks, delivered!

Can't make it to the Adirondacks this holiday season? Have the Adirondacks delivered to your door. The Adirondacks, USA Market brings Adirondack-inspired home decor, works of art, clothing, and specialty goods from the region's small businesses right to you, so you can shop a little mountain magic from anywhere. (And between us? It's also a great way to sneak in a few gifts for yourself.)