“Ask any fly fisher why they like to fish, and one of the first things you are likely to hear is that time and troubles all but disappear when you’re on the water. After experiencing this phenomenon for years, I began to lean into aspects of the sport that contributed to its meditative quality and, it turns out, the same practices that lead to relaxation and calm also make you a better fly angler. “ - Cari Ray

In a world obsessed with shortcuts to performance, fly fishing beckons us to slow down and take the scenic route. In this presentation, Cari will share some of the decisions you can make, on and off the water, to simultaneously enhance your enjoyment and increase your fly angling success.

Enhance your experience by joining us for a delicious dinner in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore, followed by the presentation.

All Event Sessions

Birdsong is more than music, it’s data. In this presentation, Wil Hershberger introduces the tools and techniques that turn birdwatching into meaningful scientific contribution. Learn how to use the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird app to track your observations, how those records are used in bird research and conservation efforts, and how participants can upload photos and audio recordings to the Macaulay Library. The program will also include a brief overview of recording bird sounds, giving attendees practical ways to listen more closely and participate in citizen science.

Step into Great Camp Sagamore during our community day and explore the historic grounds! This is your chance to meet our Historical Interpreters and staff members who will be stationed around camp. Hear their stories, ask questions, and learn about the rich history that makes Sagamore so special.

Discover all that’s planned for the season as our guides share details about upcoming events, programs, and tours. Perfect for families, history enthusiasts, Adirondack adventurers, and our regional neighbors alike.

Make the morning even more memorable by adding a buffet brunch in Sagamore’s historic Dining Hall, available from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm for an additional cost. Enjoy delicious fare with lake views while soaking in the camp’s timeless charm.

Come for the history, meet the team, and get a sneak peek at all the excitement coming this season at Sagamore!

“Ask any fly fisher why they like to fish, and one of the first things you are likely to hear is that time and troubles all but disappear when you’re on the water. After experiencing this phenomenon for years, I began to lean into aspects of the sport that contributed to its meditative quality and, it turns out, the same practices that lead to relaxation and calm also make you a better fly angler. “ - Cari Ray

In a world obsessed with shortcuts to performance, fly fishing beckons us to slow down and take the scenic route. In this presentation, Cari will share some of the decisions you can make, on and off the water, to simultaneously enhance your enjoyment and increase your fly angling success.

Enhance your experience by joining us for a delicious dinner in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore, followed by the presentation.

All Event Sessions

Book signing and presentation by Staff Historian Connor Williams.

A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases by Connor Williams and Ty Seidule recounts the story of the bipartisan Naming Commission, which was tasked with renaming nine U.S. military bases previously named for Confederate soldiers. The book details the commission's process of selecting ten new names, highlighting the lives of these diverse American heroes, and contrasts them with the Confederate figures they replaced, offering a powerful narrative on reclaiming American history and honoring true service. 

All Event Sessions

Join Chef Sydney for an unforgettable evening where locally inspired cuisine, curated wine pairing, and the serene lakeside setting come together.

Each dinner is thoughtfully prepared. Guests will enjoy a buffet-style meal, served in the spirit of the many generations of shared meals in Sagamore’s historic Dining Hall. Each dinner offers a chance to connect with friends, family, and the timeless rhythms of the Adirondacks.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, deepening connecting with friends, or simply savoring the quiet majesty of the Adirondacks, join us for an evening of food, wine, and community.

Advance registration is required as space is limited and subject to availability. Book now to reserve your spot at the table!

All Event Sessions

The Sagamore Seminars education series is offered by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the Education Department of the State of New York and sole owner and operator of Great Camp Sagamore. 

Humankind's earliest recorded histories can be found in the marks etched onto cave walls tens of thousands of years ago. When words fall short, we turn to images, using visual expression to communicate what language cannot. Join art professor Wes Sherman for an engaging presentation that delves into the significance of mark-making throughout human history, while also introducing the fundamental principles of composition.

All Event Sessions

The Great Camps had great furniture. It came from nature, was built by necessity, and remains exceptional to this day.

Between the 1880s and the 1920s, “Great Camps” like Sagamore transformed the Adirondack wilderness. Unsurpassed in their acreage and ambition, these massive complexes attracted Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Morgans, Rockefellers, Whitneys, Webbs and hosts of other, only-slightly-less-wealthy Gilded Age millionaires and their descendants.

Fleeing congested cities of steel, smoke, and sickness, each summer they sought refuge in these mountains from the ill-effects of the industrial society that had made their fortunes. These bark-clad buildings provided the perfect retreat: rustic on the outside and surrounded by rugged wilderness, yet surprisingly comfortable, ordered and refined on the inside. “Roughing it,” in practice, was seldom that.

But how to refine the interiors? What items might make these sitting-rooms, studies, dining halls, hunting lodges, and bedrooms mirror their exteriors in simplistic, natural style, but still match the complexity, rarity and luxury their owners expected?

The answer to those questions came from men like George Wilson. During the 1900s and 1910s, Wilson worked at Sagamore as a gardener, nursing the crops of vegetables and flowers through the harsh extremes of the Adirondack seasons. But off the clock, he worked on his art—ornately ordered twig-work and tree root tables, bookcases and writing desks that were highly sought in his day and have become practically priceless in our present.

Due the generous loan of a private collector and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, almost a dozen will spend the summer on display at the site that created them, more than a hundred years ago--Great Camp Sagamore.

Join Sagamore's Staff for an exclusive viewing of the pieces, and conversation that explores the context, craftsmanship, manufacture, and meaning of these exceptional artifacts that were born from nature, and built at Sagamore.

All Event Sessions

Spend an afternoon savoring excellent food and outstanding regional craft beers. Begin with lunch in our historic Dining Hall overlooking Sagamore Lake, attend the keynote presentation The History of Craft Beer by John Holl of All About Beer. Then explore the grounds on a guided tasting tour.

Professional brewers, dedicated home brewers, and beer enthusiasts alike will sample, discuss, and celebrate their favorite brews, all in the breathtaking beauty of the Adirondacks.

Attending Breweries:

• Common Roots Brewing Company (South Glens Falls, NY)

• Drop-In Brewing Company (Middlebury, VT)

• Eastwood Brewing Company (Syracuse, NY)

• Scale House Brewery (Hector, NY)

• Prison City Brewing (Auburn, NY)

• Wild Bloom Beer (Littleton, NH)

• Wallenpaupack Brewing Company (Hawley, PA)

The Sagamore Seminars education series is offered by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the Education Department of the State of New York and sole owner and operator of Great Camp Sagamore. 

250 years ago, representatives from 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and declared their independence. Paradoxically, this was rather after the fact – they had already raised an army, committed treason against the crown, and fought pitched battles for about a year. And many students of the enlightenment will know that while the precise order of the words was unique, the Declaration of Independence’s preamble was hardly new – principal author Thomas Jefferson and editors John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Phillip Livingston, and Roger Sherman were expressing sentiments that had already existed for decades.

There are other paradoxes as well. All 13 colonies possessed legal slavery, but all fought for a cause that claimed all men were created equal. While they fought against taxation without representation, their government forced those realities on the large majority of Americans afterwards (even white men), who were unable to vote.  And while during the Civil War Abraham Lincoln could celebrate the “mystic chords of memory stretching from every patriot grave”, an honest accounting of the past requires us to reckon with the fact that the Revolution was itself a civil war, and we have more or less written the loyalists out of our history.

Still, something revolutionary DID happen in Philadelphia, and has happened ever since. Sagamore‘s Historian Connor Williams will discuss all these ideas and reflect on the importance of the American Revolution in our day, in its day, and ever since.

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

In 2026, our nation marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — a moment that changed the course of history. While the American Revolution is often remembered for its battles, bold leaders, and pivotal debates, it was also a time of deep patriotism, courage, and music.

Join us for a lively and engaging program that brings the spirit of the Revolution to life through song. Featuring eight historic pieces from the era, this performance weaves music together with storytelling, offering brief historical context that highlights the people, passions, and principles that shaped a nation.

More than a history lesson, this is an invitation to experience the Revolution as it was felt — in taverns, in camps, and in the hearts of those who longed for liberty.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Our Summer Concert Series continues with Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn, who are both steeped in Adirondack history and culture for decades. Individually and together, they share their knowledge and appreciation of the region through stories and tunes that engage every audience, especially families and children.

Peggy Lynn, singer and songwriter, runs from folk to blues with a style and range that gives meaning and emotion to all her work. Her most powerful message is for the contributions and burdens of women. Peggy believes there needs to be a female role added to the record of Adirondack history. She co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women in the Adirondacks. Bringing these stories to the public stage in her own program, “Mountain Women Can Be Heroes,” Peggy celebrates, through song and story, the comical, amazing and poignant experiences of Adirondack women as the unsung heroes.

Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer, is rapidly being acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country. As recipient of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, Dan's accomplishment, is even more considerable as he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions. Dan's renditions of traditional Irish and American tunes reflect his study and understanding of their original context. Whether re-creating 18th century harp pieces or vibrant 19th century dance tunes, Dan has engaged audiences nationwide in a variety of musical styles and moods.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Our Summer Concert Series continues with Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn, who are both steeped in Adirondack history and culture for decades. Individually and together, they share their knowledge and appreciation of the region through stories and tunes that engage every audience, especially families and children.

Peggy Lynn, singer and songwriter, runs from folk to blues with a style and range that gives meaning and emotion to all her work. Her most powerful message is for the contributions and burdens of women. Peggy believes there needs to be a female role added to the record of Adirondack history. She co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women in the Adirondacks. Bringing these stories to the public stage in her own program, “Mountain Women Can Be Heroes,” Peggy celebrates, through song and story, the comical, amazing and poignant experiences of Adirondack women as the unsung heroes.

Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer, is rapidly being acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country. As recipient of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, Dan's accomplishment, is even more considerable as he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions. Dan's renditions of traditional Irish and American tunes reflect his study and understanding of their original context. Whether re-creating 18th century harp pieces or vibrant 19th century dance tunes, Dan has engaged audiences nationwide in a variety of musical styles and moods.

All Event Sessions

The New York State Art Teachers Association is in session at Great Camp Sagamore for their annual Summer Institute and will be hosting an Artisan Market on Wednesday, July 22 & July 29, 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Artists in residence will showcase their works with many opportunities to purchase the displayed items. The event will take place in the lower campus of Sagamore. Sagamore's Wednesday Free Summer Concert event is also available that night. For more information on the Concert, visit Sagamore.org, "Events", Summer Concert Series.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork will be featured from this acoustic duet called Quickstep. John Kirk is the primary vocalist and instrumental wizard on fiddle mandolin & more. Trish Miller plays banjo, guitar and provides percussive dance steps. Together, this married couple has been working and teaching in upstate New York for over three decades. They present traditional tunes and witty songs with unique arrangements and warm clear vocals.

Old time music is the basis for their repertoire, but they also like to mix in some originals, Celtic, early country songs, humorous selections, and Appalachian clog dancing. Many songs and tunes are rooted in the local lore of the northeast woodlands. Their story-telling songs and poetic pieces make their shows fine entertainment for all ages.

In 2022, John was inducted into the North American (& NY) Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. The duet has twice been nominated for Eddie Awards in New York’s Capitol district. Both of them are music instructors at Skidmore College, and John is part of the music faculty at Bennington College as well. They have been given numerous grants for concerts and teaching including their selection by the US State Department to various cities in Eastern Europe. As teaching artists, John & Trish have conducted school programs and residencies in music & dance heritage since the 1990’s. For many years, they have taught at summer music camps, museums, libraries, coffeehouses and more. From Carnegie Hall to their local Flurry Festival, John & Trish entertain and they work to carry on lively, traditional tunes & dances.

All Event Sessions

The New York State Art Teachers Association is in session at Great Camp Sagamore for their annual Summer Institute and will be hosting an Artisan Market on Wednesday, July 22 & July 29, 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Artists in residence will showcase their works with many opportunities to purchase the displayed items. The event will take place in the lower campus of Sagamore. Sagamore's Wednesday Free Summer Concert event is also available that night. For more information on the Concert, visit Sagamore.org, "Events", Summer Concert Series.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Truck-driving Adirondack folk musician, Josh Clevenstine, follows in the footsteps of his musical mentors, Chris Shaw and Dan Berggren. A proud “tradition-bearer,” Josh is passionate about applying his own style to old songs and traditions and passing them along to the next generation. His music—propelled by crosspicking guitar reminiscent of the great Johnny Cash—is marked by honest lyrics drawn from his own experiences. Harlan Howard famously described country music as “3 chords and the truth,” and Josh’s powerful songs are a testament to the magic inherent in that particular formula.

All Event Sessions

In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original Dan Berggren. A beloved singer-songwriter and cultural ambassador of the North Country, Dan brings decades of music and lived experience to the stage.

Through original songs and Adirondack ballads, he captures the landscapes, people, and traditions that define the region—offering a warm, engaging celebration of Adirondack heritage and community.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Seasoned solo performers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan have combined talents to create a dynamic trio called The Jamcrackers. Named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams, they worked hard to find solutions to get things rolling again and it was a job that couldn’t be done alone. Dan, Peggy and Dan feel the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians bring a rare blend of humor, history, and musical spirit to their performances.

All Event Sessions

The Sagamore Seminars education series is offered by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the Education Department of the State of New York and sole owner and operator of Great Camp Sagamore. 

Astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue invites us to reconsider what darkness truly is—and why it matters. Tracing its origins in cosmic history, she explores the idea that darkness is not simply the absence of light, but a presence with its own meaning and power. From the formation of the universe to the rhythms that govern life on Earth, this thought-provoking program examines how we experience darkness and why both humans and the natural world depend on cycles of light and dark. Drawing connections between astronomy and monastic traditions, O’Donoghue reflects on how seekers of scientific discovery and spiritual insight alike enter darkness in pursuit of understanding—revealing that sometimes it is the light itself that hides what only darkness can illuminate. Join us for the presentation and stargazing!

All Event Sessions

The Sagamore Seminars education series is offered by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the Education Department of the State of New York and sole owner and operator of Great Camp Sagamore. 

Humankind's earliest recorded histories can be found in the marks etched onto cave walls tens of thousands of years ago. When words fall short, we turn to images, using visual expression to communicate what language cannot. Join art professor Wes Sherman for an engaging presentation that delves into the significance of mark-making throughout human history, while also introducing the fundamental principles of composition.

All Event Sessions

Curious what you really need for a day in the Adirondack backcountry? Wondering how that list changes when you stay overnight? Join us for “What’s in My Pack?” — a hands-on, practical presentation designed specifically for Trailwise Women who want to hike smarter, lighter, and more confidently in the Adirondacks.

Together, we’ll unpack (literally!) the essential gear for both a backcountry day trip and an overnight adventure in the Adirondack Park. From the Ten Essentials to comfort items that make all the difference, we’ll talk through what to bring, why it matters, and how to choose gear that works for your body, your experience level, and your goals.

The Sagamore Seminars education series is offered by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the Education Department of the State of New York and sole owner and operator of Great Camp Sagamore. 

Art Professor and 30-year career artist, Wes Sherman, has long been the beloved lead instructor of Sagamore’s annual Plein Air Painting Seminar. In this presentation, he’ll cover the longstanding of tradition of painting “en plein air” (French for “in the open air”) — at Sagamore, around the Adirondacks, and across the globe.

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Josh Clevenstine. A passionate interpreter of North Country traditions, Josh brings heartfelt musicianship and a deep appreciation for Adirondack culture to the stage.

Mentored by Adirondack legends such as Dan Berggren and Chris Shaw, Josh carries forward a rich musical lineage rooted in the people and places of the North Country. Through traditional ballads and time-honored songs, he shares the landscapes, legends, and everyday stories that define the region—offering a warm, engaging celebration of Adirondack heritage and community.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Write what you know. Tell a story. Let the journey be your guide. So true. If only we all could tell our stories in the beautiful, moving, and melodic ways that Sara Milonovich does. Enjoy as she shares her fiddle-fueled, heady harvest of heart-stopping, original “roots rock” and alt-Americana.

All Event Sessions

Book signing and presentation by Staff Historian Connor Williams.

A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases by Connor Williams and Ty Seidule recounts the story of the bipartisan Naming Commission, which was tasked with renaming nine U.S. military bases previously named for Confederate soldiers. The book details the commission's process of selecting ten new names, highlighting the lives of these diverse American heroes, and contrasts them with the Confederate figures they replaced, offering a powerful narrative on reclaiming American history and honoring true service. 

All Event Sessions

The Barn Dance tradition lives throughout history as a way for communities to gather, revel, and move together. Join us for our very first Barn Dance open to the general public in recent memory! Enjoy a lively evening of fellowship, song, & dance, led by professional “caller” Paul Rosenberg and his band, Tamarack. From the winding “snake” to “peeling the banana,” move hand-in-hand with other Sagamore community members.

Paul Rosenberg has been leading dances throughout the northeastern United States since 1986. In recent years, he has been one of the busiest callers in North America, working over 200 dance engagements a year. He is known for his gentle but energetic, encouraging style, concise teaching, and offbeat sense of humor.

Paul gets his greatest satisfaction from enabling people who have never danced—especially the dance phobic—to not only get up and dance, but also to have a great time doing it and come back for more!

Join Chef Sydney for an unforgettable evening where locally inspired cuisine, curated wine pairing, and the serene lakeside setting come together.

Each dinner is thoughtfully prepared. Guests will enjoy a buffet-style meal, served in the spirit of the many generations of shared meals in Sagamore’s historic Dining Hall. Each dinner offers a chance to connect with friends, family, and the timeless rhythms of the Adirondacks.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, deepening connecting with friends, or simply savoring the quiet majesty of the Adirondacks, join us for an evening of food, wine, and community.

Advance registration is required as space is limited and subject to availability. Book now to reserve your spot at the table!

All Event Sessions

The Great Camps had great furniture. It came from nature, was built by necessity, and remains exceptional to this day.

Between the 1880s and the 1920s, “Great Camps” like Sagamore transformed the Adirondack wilderness. Unsurpassed in their acreage and ambition, these massive complexes attracted Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Morgans, Rockefellers, Whitneys, Webbs and hosts of other, only-slightly-less-wealthy Gilded Age millionaires and their descendants.

Fleeing congested cities of steel, smoke, and sickness, each summer they sought refuge in these mountains from the ill-effects of the industrial society that had made their fortunes. These bark-clad buildings provided the perfect retreat: rustic on the outside and surrounded by rugged wilderness, yet surprisingly comfortable, ordered and refined on the inside. “Roughing it,” in practice, was seldom that.

But how to refine the interiors? What items might make these sitting-rooms, studies, dining halls, hunting lodges, and bedrooms mirror their exteriors in simplistic, natural style, but still match the complexity, rarity and luxury their owners expected?

The answer to those questions came from men like George Wilson. During the 1900s and 1910s, Wilson worked at Sagamore as a gardener, nursing the crops of vegetables and flowers through the harsh extremes of the Adirondack seasons. But off the clock, he worked on his art—ornately ordered twig-work and tree root tables, bookcases and writing desks that were highly sought in his day and have become practically priceless in our present.

Due the generous loan of a private collector and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, almost a dozen will spend the summer on display at the site that created them, more than a hundred years ago--Great Camp Sagamore.

Join Sagamore's Staff for an exclusive viewing of the pieces, and conversation that explores the context, craftsmanship, manufacture, and meaning of these exceptional artifacts that were born from nature, and built at Sagamore.

All Event Sessions

In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original Dan Berggren. A beloved singer-songwriter and cultural ambassador of the North Country, Dan brings decades of music and lived experience to the stage.

Through original songs and Adirondack ballads, he captures the landscapes, people, and traditions that define the region—offering a warm, engaging celebration of Adirondack heritage and community.

All Event Sessions

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Free Summer Concert Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

From Upstate New York, Oona Grady (fiddle/viola/vocals) and James Gascoyne (guitar/banjo/vocals) play and sing North Atlantic dance tunes and folk songs as members of this amazing music venture, Drank the Gold.

Steeped in Irish music for as far back as she can remember, Oona spent many years living in Cork, Ireland, where she honed her skills as a fiddle player and Irish music specialist. Upon moving back to her hometown of Ithaca, NY, Oona immersed herself in the local traditional music scene and incorporated old time and Cajun tunes into her repertoire.

Growing up outside Louisville, KY, James was surrounded by music from an early age; radio, vinyl records, church music, and live concerts were a part of daily life. Finding his own musical style as an adult, James always keeps his ears open for sounds – new, old, familiar, or strange. While singing and playing guitar and banjo with Drank The Gold, he delves into the traditions of American old time and Irish dance tunes, while keeping true to his borderless, experimental musical roots.

Now based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oona and James collaborate as Drank The Gold, bringing new perspectives and innovative arrangements to the music they love. “Craic agus ceol!” (“Good times and music!”)

All Event Sessions

Join Chef Sydney for an unforgettable evening where locally inspired cuisine, curated wine pairing, and the serene lakeside setting come together.

Each dinner is thoughtfully prepared. Guests will enjoy a buffet-style meal, served in the spirit of the many generations of shared meals in Sagamore’s historic Dining Hall. Each dinner offers a chance to connect with friends, family, and the timeless rhythms of the Adirondacks.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, deepening connecting with friends, or simply savoring the quiet majesty of the Adirondacks, join us for an evening of food, wine, and community.

Advance registration is required as space is limited and subject to availability. Book now to reserve your spot at the table!

All Event Sessions