Despite the mild temperatures and spring-like winds of this week’s January thaw, the Winter Carnival Committee is moving full speed ahead with plans for the 59th Annual Lake George Winter Carnival. The Snowball Gala, a pre-carnival fundraiser, is scheduled for Friday, January 24 at the Lake George Beach Club on Lower Montcalm Street.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres and entertainment by Brandon LaRocca and James Hood. Ticket holders will feast on a dinner buffet featuring roast turkey and carved prime rib. At 8:30 p.m., the party band Cryin’ Out Loud will take the stage for attendees’ listening and dancing pleasure.
The evening will include silent and live auctions of goods provided by local businesses. Tickets for the 2020 Snowball Gala are $40 per person and may be purchased at Mario’s Restaurant on Canada Street or online through the Lake George Winter Carnival’s Facebook page.
Proceeds support the Lake George 2020 Winter Carnival, which will be held each weekend in February. Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for noon, February 1, on the MacDonald Pier in Shepard Park. Ceremonies will be followed by the Carnival’s signature event, the outhouse races. The Lake George Winter Carnival Parade steps off at 4 p.m. from Fort William Henry and will travel up Canada Street to Shepard Park. Opening Day fireworks shoot off from the lake at 6 p.m.
While several Winter Carnival activities require a frozen lake, over the past half-century, the Winter Carnival Committee has become expert at adapting activities to variations in the weather. In years past, some of the busiest Carnival weekends have experienced 60-degree temperatures. Plunging temperatures and snow are in the forecast, but an old-fashioned winter is never guaranteed. Follow the Winter Carnival on Facebook for updates and venue changes as February nears.
Related: When does Lake George freeze?