Once Friday’s gusty winds calmed, temperatures plunging to 20-below zero froze up the surface of Lake George, and at noon on Saturday, Feb. 4, Lake George Winter Carnival 2023 launched with opening ceremonies in Shepard Park. Winter Carnival Co-chair Nancy Nichols welcomed a small crowd, all bundled up against still sub-zero weather, to the 61st carnival noting that although the lake was covered with ice, it had only been frozen “for about 15 minutes” and was not safe to walk on. She suggested that after the ceremonies, people head indoors for lunch to warm up.
The Ceremony opened with Steve Burns singing the National Anthem and Father Joe Busch giving the opening prayer. Speakers included Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB Executive Director Gina Mintzer and Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr.
“We can’t have a Winter Carnival without winter,” says LaFarr, “and she sure arrived!” The Sheriff reiterated that the lake was not yet safe to walk on saying it needed another week of freezing temperatures, at least, to “button up.”
Following the ceremony, people lined up at the Shepard Park amphitheatre to sample and vote for their favorite chili from local restaurants for the chili cook-off and the outhouse races began In Battlefield Park. This year’s race saw a field of six outhouse teams compete in double-elimination sprints. Last year’s champions, team TGIPD (The Great International Poop Dudes), defended their first-place position with the Garrison taking second place and The Lagoon coming in third. Winners shared $2,000 cash prizes.
For the first time in Carnival history, a second outhouse race will be held on the third weekend, Feb. 18. Anyone wishing to enter may register online at Ticketleap. Contact The Lagoon at (518)685-5009 for more information.
First place in Saturday’s Chili Cook-off went to Mario’s Restaurant. The Adirondack Pub & Brewery took second place and The Lagoon came in third. Next weekend’s cook-off, Feb. 11, will be BBQ, a chowder cook-off is scheduled for Feb. 18 and the chicken wing cook-off will be held on the final Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Lake George Winter Carnival is held each weekend in February with Shepard Park serving as the base of operations. Events include races, polar plunges, cook-offs, dog shows, bonfires, hot chocolate bars and more. The Carnival fireworks will shoot off over the lake every Saturday at 7 p.m. Several indoor activities are also scheduled including Sunday Paint & Sips at Blue Thirty-Two and crafts and games for children at the Courtyard Marriot on Canada Street.
Nichols says the Carnival Committee had created a full schedule of events for the four weekends of Winter Carnival 2023 with contingency plans made for varying weather conditions. Visit the Lake George Winter Carnival Facebook page for updated schedules.
