SARANAC LAKE — “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau’s button and poster designs for the 2025 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival have been revealed and are now on sale at numerous places around town.
The buttons and posters were created along this year’s Carnival theme, “Music Legends” and feature members of his comic cast rocking out. The poster shows the Doonesbury band “Tri-Lake All Stars” jamming in the back of a truck, a float in the Carnival Gala Parade.
The poster shows Doonesbury characters Zonker, Mark, Alex, Duke and Jeff rocking out on the back of a stake rack truck being driven by Mike down Broadway.
The button shows a cutout of Zonker playing the saxophone and Mark playing the drums.
Trudeau said the designs are a celebration of local music, Carnival and 55 years of his famous strip’s existence.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for local pick-up bands,” Trudeau wrote in an email. “They may only be legends in their own minds, but they’re important to the people who gather to hear them over the years.”
His cartoon band are hometown heroes and their name, “Tri-Lake All Stars,” is a nod to the area’s nickname.
“I’ve always liked that SL and its sister towns regard themselves as the ‘Tri-Lake Area,’” Trudeau wrote. “I think I first heard the phrase as a kid on WNBZ.”
Trudeau, who was raised in Saranac Lake, has designed the Winter Carnival button ever since the chamber of commerce asked him in 1981. His buttons are sold to benefit next year’s Carnival. Trudeau started doing posters for the same purpose in 2012.
Trudeau said the “EST. 1970” written on the side of the truck on the poster stands for the year Doonesbury first published. It marks the 55th year of his cartoon running in newspapers around the country.
2025 Winter Carnival button
“I’ve always loved signage that indicates the date of establishment. Most businesses don’t do that anymore, even though the point is to promote trust,” Trudeau wrote.
Trudeau was asked about his inspiration and process for the button and poster designs.
“It’s always the same process — I kick around a few ideas and rough sketches with my colleague George Corsillo until I settle on something a little unexpected,” Trudeau wrote. “‘Legend’ suggested some flashy send-up of Elton (John) or Taylor (Swift), but that seemed too on the money. I wanted to convey the fun of the actual parade.”
Trudeau was asked how he picked which instrument each character should play.
“I’d shown Zonker playing the sax in other contexts (including an earlier button), so he was already locked in,” he wrote. “Mark lives to make noise, so assigning him percussion seemed right. Alex, my most self-involved character, raised her hand to front the band. Duke, who functions in a pretty low register, seemed perfect for bass. and Jeff — well, you just know he’d been playing air guitar his whole life.”
2025 Winter Carnival poster
Trudeau was asked who his music legends are.
“Too many to name,” he said, “but the one who has most inspired me is Randy Newman — not only an astonishingly gifted composer and performer, but one of our country’s greatest satirists. It’s a rare combination.”
Where to buy buttons
The buttons cost $5 and are be available at the following merchants in Saranac Lake: the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Adirondack Wine & Liquor, Adirondack Bank (Main Street and Church Street locations), Ampersound, Bear Essentials Apparel, Belvedere Restaurant, Blue Moon Cafe, Coakley Home and Hardware, Carcuzzi, Community Bank (Broadway) Fusion Market, SL Grand Union, Hair of the Dog, Hamlets to Huts, Historic Saranac Lake, Hyde Mobil (Lake Flower Avenue and Broadway), Kinney Drugs, NBT Bank, Hotel Saranac-Academy & Main gift shop, Rice Furniture, Rusty Nail, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Saranac Lake Moose Lodge, Saranac Lake Adult Center, Romano’s Saranac Lanes, The Village Mercantile, Voco Saranac Lake Waterfront Lodge, Waterhole and Will Rogers. This list is subject to change.
Buttons will also be sold during Winter Carnival at its gift shop and history hut located on River Street at the boat launch next to the Ice Palace.
They are also available through mail order by sending a check payable to “Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee / Attention: Barb Martin / P.O. Box 566 / Saranac Lake, New York 12983.”
There is an additional cost for shipping based on the quantity of buttons ordered. One through four buttons cost $6, five through eight buttons cost $6.50 and nine or more buttons cost $8. Prices are subject to change.
Past Winter Carnival buttons are also available for $5. For more information, contact Barb Martin at 518-891-2382.
Where to buy posters
Unsigned posters will also be available at the History Hut for $20 including tax.
Trudeau signed 100 posters which cost $75 each including tax. There is an additional cost for shipping if local pick-up is not possible. Signed posters are available to purchase by contacting Cheryl Joyce via e-mail at wcpostersales@gmail.com or by phone or text at 518-524-2731.
Those who have purchased signed posters last year should contact Joyce to continue the numbered series. Unclaimed numbered posters will be made available to the public on a first come/first served basis. Contact Joyce to be placed on the waiting list.
A raffle will be held for signed poster “No. 1.” Sales are limited to 100 raffle tickets at a cost of $5 each. Tickets are available from Joyce or at the Winter Carnival History Hut located near the Ice Palace during carnival week. The drawing will be help on Feb. 9 and the winner notified.
Unsigned posters are for sale at Ampersound at 52 Main St., Academy & Main Gift shop in the Hotel Saranac, the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in the Harrietstown Town Hall and Rice Furniture. Payment is by cash or check only.
In addition to current year posters, prior year unsigned posters for some years are still available for $10. To purchase a poster by mail, contact Joyce. There is an additional cost for shipping.
Winter Carnival starts this year on Jan. 31 and goes through Feb. 9.