The Adirondack spring is schizophrenic: warm and freezing, sunny and dismal, covered in brown murky mud and white fluffy snow. From our uncertain perch, alternately sliding into summer and tipping back to winter, carefree dog days seem a world away.

 

Except, that is, in Indian Lake. As part of the hamlet’s weekend-long St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza, the Ski Hut, on Route 30, hosts its annual Mutt Strut on March 14. Starting at 1:00 p.m. costumed pooches take a turn on the catwalk, competing for honors like most colorful, most talkative and, of course, cutest. For details call (518) 648-5828.

 

On March 17 beard buffs and lovers of all that is Irish should check out the Adirondack Donegal Beard Contest at Durant’s Restaurant, in North Creek. Donegals, furry swaths along the jawline without a matching moustache—think leprechaun or Abe Lincoln—are judged on length, fullness and style. The beard-off begins at 4:00 p.m.; see www.adirondackalmanack.com or call (518) 251-2500 for information.

 

Join a younger crowd on April 3, at 10:00 a.m., for an Eco-Quest Egg Hunt at the Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths (518-327-3000, www.adkvic.org), where wee ones can search for nature-based questions and answers in caches of colorful eggs. Register in advance.

 

On April 10 get wet and wild at Whiteface Mountain’s Pond Skimming Contest. Skiers and boarders vie for best distance, splash, costume and more, starting at noon. For information check www.whiteface.com or call (518) 946-2223.

 

Fiddlers are invited to lend a bow at Long Lake’s Spring Blossom Fiddle Jamboree on April 25. The jamming kicks off at the town hall at 12:30 p.m. Call (518) 624-3077 to learn more.

 

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

March 6: Ice fishing contest for adult-child teams. Sponsored by the Long Lake Fish & Game Club. Town hall nutrition office, Long Lake. 8:30 a.m. (518) 624-3077. www.longlake-ny.com

 

March 6–7: Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival. Ski clinics and guided tours. Register in advance. The Mountaineer, Keene Valley. Check for times. (518) 576-2281. www.mountaineer.com

 

March 7: Snowshoe hike along Pinnacle Road, in Bleecker, with bushwhack to an ice fall. Sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Alpiners. Meet at Caroga Lake post office. 10 a.m. (518) 568-5372

 

March 20–23: U.S. Alpine National Championships. Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, Wilmington. Check for times. (518) 946-2223. www.whiteface.com

 

March 27: Moonlight snowshoe trek to remote ponds. Meet at the Grand Union, Schroon Lake. 6:30 p.m. (518) 532-9745. www.schroonlake.org

 

March 28: Shamrock Shuffle. Five-mile race and kids’ fun run to benefit Special Olympics. Sponsored by Adirondack Runners. Glens Falls High School. 11 a.m. www.adirondackrunners.com

 

April 3: Rail Rally. Snowboard/ski freestyle. Gore Mountain, North Creek. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.; event at noon. (518) 251-2411. www.goremountain.com

 

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

March 7: Bands-N-Beans. Chili and music to benefit Lake George Arts Project. Roaring Brook Ranch, Lake George. 2 p.m. (518) 668-2616. www.lakegeorgearts.org

 

March 12: St. Paddy’s Parade. Synchronized Snowplows, Precision Shopping Carts and more. Main Street, Old Forge. 5 p.m. (315) 369-6983. www.oldforgeny.com

 

March 13–14, 20–21, 27–28: Thurman Maple Weekends. Sugarhouse tours, demonstrations and more. Townwide. 10 a.m. each day. Maple-sugar party at the Thurman town hall on March 13, 4 p.m. (518) 623-9718. www.thurman-ny.com

 

April 22–25: Festival of Food and Wine. Tastings, dinners and demonstrations by master chefs. Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid. Check for times. (518) 523-2544. www.mirrorlakeinn.com

 

MUSIC & THEATER

March 4: Steel Magnolias. Broadway play presented by Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. Benefits the Forever Wild Play Park. Clifton Fine Community Center, Star Lake. 7 p.m. (877) 752-7715. www.adirondackarts.org

 

March 12: The Red Haired Strangers play country and Delta blues. Sponsored by the Jay Entertainment & Music Society. Amos and Julia Ward Theatre, Jay. 7 p.m. (518) 946-7824. www.jemsgroup.com

 

March 13: The Cove. Sundance-award-winning documentary sponsored by the Champlain Valley Film Society. Willsboro Central School. 7:30 p.m. (518) 963-8662. www.cvfilms.org

 

March 19: Crane School of Music Choir. Sponsored by Upper Hudson Musical Arts. Tannery Pond Community Center, North Creek. 7:30 p.m. (518) 251-3571. www.upperhudsonmusic.org

 

March 21: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience. Zydeco-funk-reggae–flavored Afro-Caribbean music. Lake Placid Center for the Arts. 7:30 p.m. (518) 523-2512. www.lakeplacidarts.org

 

April 10: John Jorgenson Quintet. Wild Gypsy swing by Grammy-winning guitarist. Advance tickets recommended. Lewis County Historical Society, Lowville. 7 p.m. (315) 376-8957. www.frontiernet.net/~lchs

 

April 17–18: Chamber Music for Brass & Piano sponsored by Piano by Nature. Reservations required. The Historic Hand House, Elizabethtown. Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. (518) 962-8539. www.pianobynature.org

 

LECTURES & WORKSHOPS

March 6–27: Maple Sugar Basics: Sap to Syrup. Tapping, collecting and boiling demonstrations. Up Yonda Farm, Bolton Landing. Saturdays, 1 p.m. (518) 644-9767. www.upyondafarm.com

 

March 13: Heavy Rocks and Sexy Flowers. Alpine-zone ecology. Sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club. High Peaks Information Center, Lake Placid. 8 p.m. (518) 523-3480. www.adk.org

 

March 13–14: Carve a Gnome Home. Wood-carving workshop with Mike Bloomquist. Arts Center/Old Forge. 9 a.m. both days. (315) 369-6411. www.artscenteroldforge.org

 

April 3: North Country Garden Symposium sponsored by Adirondack Botanical Garden. Register in advance. Chestertown Municipal Center. Check for times. (518) 532-7430. www.adirondackbotanicalgarden.org

 

April 11: Armchair Paddlers’ Guide to the Schroon River. Lecture by Mike Prescott. Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake. 1:30 p.m. (518) 352-7311. www.adkmuseum.org

 

EXHIBITIONS

Through March 22: Moments. New paintings by Alex Schuchard. 511 Gallery, Lake Placid. (518) 523-7163. www.511gallery.com

 

March 1–31: Oil and acrylic paintings by Marion Kratky. Sponsored by the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network. Northville Public Library. Opening reception March 2, 6 p.m. (518) 863-2201. www.svanarts.org

 

March 13–April 16: Paintings and drawings by Dana Clancy and Ben Schwab. Lake George Arts Project’s Courthouse Gallery, Lake George. Opening reception March 13, 4 p.m. (518) 668-2616. www.lakegeorgearts.org

 

Editors’ Note: Because Inside & Out must be prepared so far in advance of publication, telephone numbers are included for the confirmation of dates and times of events. E-mail events to calendar@adirondacklife.com.