The Lake George Winter Carnival Committee today posted a slightly revised schedule for the annual festival, reaffirming that the much-anticipated event will go on with, or without, the cooperation of Mother Nature. The waters of Lake George are still free of ice, and ice-dependent events must be moved to the shore, or cancelled. However, opening ceremonies will take place as planned at noon, Feb. 6, by the Shepard Park Beach. The Carnival is held each weekend in February.
The Carnival’s signature event, the outhouse races, will follow opening ceremonies. Linda Duffy of the Winter Carnival Committee tells the Lake George Examiner they are still working on a spot to hold the races. Normally, racers push and pull their outhouses across the frozen lake, although in previous years, the event was held on snow-covered parking lots when the lake failed to freeze in time. “We’ve put a call for snowmakers,” Duffy says, “but they may not be available.”
Possible venues for the race, either with manmade or natural snow, are the Boardwalk Restaurant parking lot or the Charles R. Wood Festival Space. Without snow, Duffy says the outhouses may be fitted with wheels. Registration for the races begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 at Duffy’s Tavern on Lower Amherst Street. Also scheduled for opening day is a chili cook off in Shepard Park beginning at 12:30 p.m. Area restaurants and taverns donate vats of chili, and festival attendees sample each variety and vote for their favorite.
The Lake George Winter Carnival parade steps off at 4 p.m. Saturday from the South end of Lake George Village and proceeds north up Canada Street to Amherst. Following the parade, Carnival attendees can toast marshmallows and make s’mores on the Shepard Park Beach. A fireworks display shoots off over the lake at 6 p.m.
Other activities for the Carnival’s first weekend are the Lake George Dog’s Got Talent Show held on the beach at 2 p.m. This event, sponsored by The Dog Cabin, is open to any dog owner that wishes to show off their pet. King Neptune’s on Kurosaka Lane will host children’s activities and face painting.
Looking forward to weeks two through four, many events will depend on the weather and the condition of Lake George. The Electric City Riders, who were scheduled to hold NY State AMA Sanctioned Motorcycle and ATV ice races on Feb. 13 and 14, have tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 27 and 28. Visit the Lake George Winter Carnival website for the latest updates to the Carnival schedule.
