The inaugural North Country New Year was by all standards a massive success, according to co-organizer Harrietstown Supervisor Jordanna Mallach. It brought in tourists from around the region and even Canada, gave local families a way to spend the occasion with the community, put giant smiles on kids’ faces and sweat on the brows of dancers, filled restaurants and packed every venue.

The Harrietstown Town Hall was standing room only for the death-defying stunts of Alakazam. Pendragon Theatre had to turn away dozens of people as it packed the house for the Completely Stranded improv comedy group and standup comic Moody McCarthy. Children filled the Saranac Lake Free Library for Jeff Boyer’s “Bubble Trouble.” The Dance Sanctuary became humid as crowds learned to dance the Salsa ahead of putting their moves to the test at Latin rock band Mal Maiz’s concert in the town hall. The crowd at Berkeley Green spilled out into the sidewalk during the Smoke Show Fire Co.’s fire dancing performances.

North Country New Year is a spiritual successor to First Night, a family-friendly end-of-year event that was held in Saranac Lake from 2007 to 2020, when it was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic.

This summer, the town of Harrietstown was looking for somewhere to put $15,000 in occupancy tax money it was given by Franklin County, which taxes stays at hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rentals to fund tourism promotion. The town decided to put it toward putting on a New Year’s Eve event again.

Zoe Brown spins flames at the Smoke Show Fire Co.’s New Year’s Eve performance at Berkeley Green. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Co-organizer Peter Crowley is the only NCNY organizer from the First Night board. He said First Night was an event which transformed New Year’s Eve in Saranac Lake, turning it from a sleepy “depressing” night to one of the busiest nights of the year, bridging regional and age gaps to bring people together for family friendly fun.

“I think it was very similar,” Crowley said of the crowds at NCNY. “It was nice to see that the appetite in the local community is just as strong for an event like this. … It also felt similar, especially with people getting up and dancing at the end to Mal Maiz.”

With fireworks at 10 p.m. instead of midnight, a lot of people went home and didn’t return to the town hall.

“So there was a smaller crowd, but almost all of them danced, so it was a great crowd,” Crowley said.

Mallach had ordered 500 buttons. All but 40 were sold or set aside for performers and volunteers before the event even began. So organizers relied on 1,000 stickers they ordered to substitute for the buttons, and Mallach said they went through most of them. In all, she said they sold more than $13,000 of buttons. That’s not even counting children under 18, who did not need buttons to enter venues.

Al Millar — AKA, Alakazam — waves his arms atop a 12-foot pole held by strangers as the crowd in the Harrietstown Town Hall watches in fear and delight. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“We certainly exceeded our expectations for buttons sales,” Mallach said.

She said more than 1,000 people were spread out across the venues at any given hour, and that people consumed more than 30 gallons of hot chocolate.

“If we were thinking this would be kind of a slow reboot, baby steps toward what it used to be, I think we were proved wrong,” Crowley said. “I think it all came back at once.”

Mallach was surprised by the number of people who came to town specifically for this event. She had expected visitors to mostly be people in town for skiing or the holidays, who needed something to do on New Year’s Eve. But many told her and other organizers that North Country New Year is what brought them to town.

Kathleen Landrigan traveled from New Jersey just for the event. She used to come up for First Night every year. After happening to be in town for it one year, she had a great time and it became a sort of tradition for her, as she returned for at least five years until the pandemic.

Josh Clement of the Darkside Skinny Dippers rocks out on top of the pool table at the Rusty Nail on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“Where can you go for New Year’s Eve where it’s relatively inexpensive, and have a good time, too?” she asked.

For her, she knew the answer has been Saranac Lake.

“I’m so glad it’s back. I’m so happy,” Landrigan said as she created a 2024 Bingo board “bucket list” at ADK ArtRise.

She said she was “big kid” and rode the Adirondack Carousel three times.

Saranac Laker Tom Dupree said he was impressed with the activity downtown while he did his nightly business checks, seeing lots of people out and “steady traffic filling up parking spaces.”

Dozens of people turned out to learn to Salsa dance at the Dance Sanctuary on New Year's Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“My hats off to the individuals who are reestablishing New Years entertainment for all to enjoy,” Dupree wrote on Facebook. “I know it’s not a easy job but you deserve some recognition from the people and businesses who benefit from your hard work. Tonight’s drive thru town reminded me of the ’70s and ’80s growing up here. Keep up the great work!”

Mallach and Crowley said they heard from many people who were thankful for the celebration to cap off the year.

“It feels great,” Mallach said. “A couple of us from the organizing committee had a sparkling grape juice toast at midnight in the auditorium. It felt very satisfying.”

Mallach said for anyone who got turned away from a venue at capacity, they should come back and try again next year.

And there will be a next year.

The Midnight Stargazers — from left, Daun Reuter, Theresa Stevenson and Rocky James — led the crowd in the Hotel Saranac’s Great Hall into the new year with a cosmic country countdown. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“We just need to make all our rooms bigger,” Crowley said with a laugh.

Mallach said committee members have already had a couple conversations about next year. In a couple weeks, the committee will meet and talk about ironing out the kinks from this year and expanding next year.

She said they were surprised by high turnout for new events like free skating at the Saranac Lake Civic Center, which saw more than 230 skaters over the night, and crafts at ADK ArtRise, which hit its studio’s capacity at points. Mallach said they may seek to expand hours at these events next year.

A new nonprofit organization has been created through the Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation for NCNY. First Night passed on the $22,000 it had in the bank left over from 2020 button sales, the last year the event was held and buttons were sold.

Other NCNY acts included the world rhythm and jazz band Heard, the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir, local musicians Dan Duggan, Peggy Lynn and Tyler Dezago, and the LoonWorks Clown Constabulary.

Jordan and Jessica Stanley decorate 2024 Bingo board “bucket lists” at ADK ArtRise on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Katie Ransom facepaints Levi Huff, 5, on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Standup comic Moody McCarthy kept the crowd at Pendragon Theatre in stitches on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Children at Jeff Boyer’s “Bubble Trouble” show at the Saranac Lake Free Library scream with delight as he creates bubbles out of thin air on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Children at Jeff Boyer’s “Bubble Trouble” show at the Saranac Lake Free Library dance with bubbles on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Colton, left, and Josh Clement of the Darkside Skinny Dippers rock out at the Rusty Nail on New Year’s Eve. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Al Millar — AKA, Alakazam — crams himself through a tennis racquet in a contorting, confounding performance at the Harrietstown Town Hall. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)