Picked from the audience by Stephen Gratto, the mild-mannered school superintendent who moonlights as a circus performer, Miner sat precariously on his shoulders as Gratto climbed onto his unicycle, sweat beating from his brow.

As she balanced above Gratto with her arms stretched out from her sides, he paraded her down the aisle through the crowd. At one point, Miner’s head nearly bumped the bottom of the balcony in the Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” Miner said later. “I wasn’t laughing about it, but I’ll laugh about it later. In the moment it was pretty scary. But the whole show was amazing.”

Gratto’s “family circus” was one of the 18 acts to take the stage Saturday night at 10 venues spread across the village as part of First Night Saranac Lake. Now in its 11th year, the family-friendly First Night has become a staple of the community calendar and an annual tradition for many people in the community.

From right, Steve Langdon, Ned Rauch and Liz Rauch of the Biscuit Rollers perform Saturday at the Elks Lodge at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

That’s even true for some of its performers like Gratto, who’s done multiple First Nights here.

“Saranac Lake is a fun place, and I enjoy the other performers,” Gratto said during a break between his two shows in the town hall. “As soon as I get out of here, I’m going to go see (the clown troupe) LoonWorks, (ventriloquist) Sylvia Fletcher, and I hear they’ve got a circus gypsy band (Caravan of Thieves). I’ve never heard of that. Saranac Lake always puts on a real good list of performers. That’s what makes it fun for me.”

While official numbers weren’t available, turnout for the event appeared to be strong throughout the evening. Organizers attributed that to the combination of talented performers and comfortable weather, with temperatures in the low 30s, making it easier for people to get around.

“It’s been steady” said First Night volunteer and board member Holly Huber. “Many venues have been full, which is bad for people, good for us. There’s been lines. People know that if they really want to see something, get to it early.”

Huber spent part of her evening at the Saranac Lake Free Library, which featured shows by Fletcher and bubble maker extraordinaire Jeff Boyer, each of whom have performed at First Night before.

Moody McCarthy does stand-up comedy at the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake Saturday night at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

“We’ve had Jeff Boyer here before. I’ve never been able to see him before, and I see why he’s such a hit,” Huber said. “The same with Sylvia Fletcher. Now I know why everyone likes to have her back.”

First Night also featured plenty of new-to-the-event musical talent. Upstate Rubdown, fronted by three women singing in harmony, drew big crowds to the Elks Club on Bloomingdale Avenue, a new venue for the event. Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters, a bluegrass-country quartet, played two standing-room-only shows at the First United Methodist Church. “Moxy rock” band the Blind Spots closed out the night at the town hall with a pair of sets.

“I’ve had great feedback from people that they like what they’ve seen,” said First Night co-founder Sue Patterson.

That was definitely the case for Corinne Gabriele and Jordan Tabolt, who recently moved to Tupper Lake and decided to check out First Night. They particularly enjoyed Fletcher and comedian Moody McCarthy, who did three sets to big crowds in the First Presbyterian Church.

“It’s been a blast,” Tabolt said. “We figured we’d get out and see the area, see Saranac Lake.”

Kristin Pinell of the Grip Weeds plays a guitar solo Saturday at the Harrietstown Town Hall at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

“We’re enjoying ourselves,” Gabrielle added.

The night ended with countdown to the new year and snowflake drop from the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s big ladder truck, followed by a fireworks display over Lake Flower.

Asked what keeps First Night going each year, Patterson said its combination of people and place.

“It’s a great community, great people and a great place to do it,” she said.

James “Fuzz” and Carrie Sangiovanni of Caravan of Thieves perform Saturday at Pendragon Theatre at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley

Stephen Gratto rides a unicycle with an audience member on his shoulders at the Harrietstown Town Hall Saturday night at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

Upstate Rubdown’s three harmony singers — Allison Olender, Mary Kenney and Melanie Glenn — perform at the Elks Lodge Saturday night at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

A couple dances to the music of the Biscuit Rollers Saturday at the Elks Lodge at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

From right, Emily Mitchell, Cody Reandeau and Mark Pratico of Morning People perform Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

Ventriloquist Sylvia Fletcher performs a comic routine with two audience members at the Saranac Lake Free Library Saturday night at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

Dexter Criss directs the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir as they perform Saturday in St. Bernard's Catholic Church for First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

A couple dances to the music of the Grip Weeds Saturday at the Harrietstown Town Hall in Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

Jeff Boyer performs a bubble show at the Saranac Lake Free Library at First Night Saranac Lake on New Year's Eve, 2016. This picture won a Feature Photography award from the New York News Publishers Association. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

Flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski smiles Saturday in the parish hall of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at First Night Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)