New events and attractions added to long-time favorite Lake George activities made for a busy 2016 at the Queen of American Lakes. Here is a look back at the year gone by:
New Year’s Day Polar Plunge
The Lake George year began as it has for decades with the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge. In 2016, the presidential election was on everyone’s mind. Among the 1,200 who plunged on January 1 was Bruce Barringer of Scotia, New York who arrived at Shepard Park wearing a Donald Trump mask.
Lake George Winter Carnival
The winter of 2015-2016 was unusually mild and free of snow. The lack of a frozen lake did not slow down the Lake George Winter Carnival Committee. The Carnival’s signature event, the outhouse races, took place in the Boardwalk Restaurant parking lot with outhouses fitted with wheels.
Sham ‘Rock’ the Block
Pipers marched up Canada Street for the St. Patrick’s Day parade and Sham “Rock” the Block party at Duffy’s Tavern.
Lake George Volunteer Fire Company Arts & Crafts Shows
The May Springtime Arts & Crafts Festival and August Family Festival fill Shepard Park with craft and food vendors.
Elvis Festival
Tribute artist Cody Ray Slaughter performs at the Elvis Fest in June.
Adirondack Wine & Food Festival
The second annual Adirondack Wine & Food Festival drew a record crowd to the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in June.
Lake George Community Band Festival
The Lake George Community Band Festival brought bands from across the U.S. and Canada to perform in Shepard Park July 15 and 16.
Skate Plaza Grand Opening
After years of planning and fundraising, the Lake George Skate Plaza officially opened with ceremony in July. Mayor Robert Blais called the park “one of the greatest things we’ve done in Lake George.”
Concerts in Shepard Park
A great mix of bands performed throughout the summer in Shepard Park with the Lake George Arts Project’s Wednesday night free concert series and Friday’s Bands & Brews. Here The Refrigerators perform on a Friday evening in July.
Eagle Flyer Zipline opens
A new attraction in Lake George, thrill-seekers can now fly down French Mountain. The Eagle Flyer Zipline, based at the Wild West Ranch, opened this past summer.
Lake George Music Festival
The Lake George Music Festival returned in August to provide 9 days of performances at venues throughout Lake George. New for 2016 was the Sounds of Our Times concert, which combined classical and electronic dance music.
Budweiser Clydesdales
The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons this August.
Adirondack Nationals Car show
The Adirondack Nationals Car Show rolled into town for its 28th year the weekend after Labor Day.
Jazz at the Lake
The Lake George Arts Project 33rd September Jazz Festival celebrated women in jazz. Here jazz violinist Karen Briggs performs with the Lao Tizer Quartet.
Autumn music festivals
September brought two major music festivals to the Festival Commons in Wood Park. The American Music Festival headlined Blue Öyster Cult and the Adirondack Independence Music Fest brought the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Spin Doctors, and Robert Randolph.
Oktoberfest
Traffic on Canada Street was diverted to make room for a beer garden with polka bands and bratwurst for the Lake George Oktoberfest.
Adirondack Pub & Brewery’s Pumpkin Chunkin
Several hundred lined up for the opportunity to catapult their rotting Halloween pumpkins across a field next to the Adirondack Pub & Brewery. The pumpkin chunkin was such a success that brewery owner John Carr says he plans to make it an annual November event.
Lite up the Village
The 2016 Lite up the Village celebration, held each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving, broke attendance records with more than 1,000 people lining Canada Street to watch a parade of lighted fire engines escort Santa and Mrs. Claus to the firehouse. Thousands of LED lights lit up Shepard Park as fireworks shot off over the lake.