Chrome, steel and revving engines return to Lake George this Thursday, September 8, for the Adirondack Nationals Car Show’s 28th year. Brought to town by Albany Rods and Kustoms, the show features more than 1,500 pre-1980 vehicles, most lovingly restored and all in running condition. The Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center serves as the base of operations, with cars on display during the day and vendors setting up on the lawn and in the Festival Commons at Wood Park.
The highlight of the event, Night Car Crusin’, takes place Friday and Saturday, 7 – 10 p.m., with registered vehicles parading along the Village’s main thoroughfares while thousands of cheering car enthusiasts line the streets to watch. This year, the cruise will travel east along Beach Road, turn at the Lake George (Million Dollar) Beach and head north up Canada Street to Lake Avenue. This is the route used for the 2013 and prior car shows. The 2014 and 2015 route brought the cars south of the Village, but organizers have changed the route this year because of the Gateway construction project leading into the Village.
Village officials have issued the following motorist alerts for Friday and Saturday:
- Access to the Village of Lake George will be limited from the south only on Route 9 and Exit 21. There will be no entry or exit except for emergency vehicles on the north end from or to Route 9 or Route 9N (Lakeshore Drive)
- Traffic southbound on Rt. 9 and Rt. 9N will be detoured at the north intersection of both roads. Motorists traveling south during the cruise should exit at Interstate 87 ramp southbound.
- Motorists coming north to the village should Exit 21 and use Birch Ave or Sewell Street. There will be no outlet to the north.
The Mayor suggests anyone planning to attend the car show arrive prior to 3 p.m. on both days. This year additional parking will be available at the Lake George Beach parking lot on Beach Road and at Water Slide World at the intersection of Routes 9 and 9L. Meter enforcement will be in effect. The Village will be offering parking passes, good for parking at any metered spot for the duration of the car show, for $50. Parking passes may be purchased at the Visitors Center on the corner of Beach Road and Canada Street and in Shepard Park on Canada Street. Parking passes will be offered at a reduced price on Saturday.
This year’s Adirondack Nationals’ celebrity guest is Steve Darnell of Discovery Channel’s “Vegas Rat Rods.” Admission to the show at Fort William Henry Hotel is $15 for the weekend. Children 12 and younger are free. Gates open 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday and close at 5 p.m. Check the Lake George Examiner Facebook page for any updates.