The final weekend of the 54th Lake George Winter Carnival opened today with brilliant, sunny skies and moderate air temperatures, a respite from the record-breaking sub-zero weather that has gripped the area all month. Hundreds flocked to the Village with crowds filling the lake’s surface from Shepard Park to Million Dollar Beach. Pedestrians traversed the lake walking a broad path of ice across the Southern Basin alongside snowmobiles, ATVs, automobiles of all kinds and sleds pulled by both parents and sled dogs. A helicopter, offering tours, lifted off and landed on the lake at regular intervals.
Four-wheel drive drag races, sponsored by King Neptune’s Pub, drew spectators to the Beach Road end of the lake. Modified trucks ran heats on a 100-yard ice path leaving plumes of exhaust in their paths. A little further north, at Shepard Park, a large crowd lined up for the chicken wing cook off.
For $5, carnival goers sampled wings from 10 area restaurants and then voted for their favorite. This year’s winner was the Log Jam Restaurant’s contribution. One wing judge commented that the Log Jam’s recipe was particularly buttery, earning his vote. The Garrison wings came in second and King Neptune’s Pub and the Holiday Inn tied for third. Other events included the Lake George Dogs Got Talent show, sponsored by The Dog Cabin, ice diving demonstrations and a bon fire on the beach, which included all the makings for s’mores.
Although most of the activity was on the frozen lake, Canada Street was seeing some action as well. Several businesses were open for dining and shopping. The Adirondack Winery tasting room had a steady stream of customers for their Locavore Weekend. The term lacavore, like herbivore and carnivore, describes a style of eating. A locavore is one who eats locally produced foods and Adirondack Winery was serving up free samples of local products from Saratoga Crackers, Adirondack Cheese Company and Eagle Ridge Farms of Schuylerville as well as their own wine jelly.
The final day of Lake George Winter Carnival 2015 is tomorrow. The next big event on the agenda is only two weeks away, the Sham “Rock” the Block street party, March 14-15. This St. Patrick’s Day festival features non-stop Irish music, Celtic games and a St. Patrick’s Day parade up Canada Street.