Real winter weather has hit the Lake George region. A stretch of cold temperatures has brought ice to Lake George, however, is not yet thick enough to support vehicles and crowds for the Lake George Winter Carnival’s third weekend. The Electric City Racers, who were scheduled to run AMA Sanctioned motorcycle and ATV ice races Feb. 18 and 19, has cancelled, but there is still plenty of action taking place on shore this weekend.
Two Nor’easters dumped more than a foot of fresh snow on Shepard Park this past week, and the creative folks on the Carnival Committee are taking advantage of this with a couple new snow-dependent events.
Do You Wanna Build a Snowman Competition
Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Competition participants will have the opportunity to build and decorate their own snowman. The Lake George Winter Carnival will provide entrants with a snowman kit containing a hat, eyes, carrot, scarf, twigs and other essentials to snowman creation. Judges will select the winning creations and award these prizes:
- 1st Place – a Family Fun Pass to Lanes and Games
- 2nd Place – Fun Spot gift card
- 3rd Place – Stewart’s gift card
Snow Tie-Dye activity
Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Cost: $5 includes t-shirt and materials necessary to create a tie-dyed garment
This process involves dumping snow on a t-shirt and applying dye. As the snow melts, the t-shirt takes on a new and groovy look.
Saturday’s cook-off this week will be chowder. For $5, participants get a sampling of chowders provided by area restaurants and will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. The line for the chowder cook-off forms at noon on the Shepard Park amphitheater stage and continues until all the chowder is gone (usually by 2 p.m.)
Chowder Cook-off 2017 participants
- Backstreet BBQ
- Café Vero
- Duffy’s
- Fire & Ice
- Fort William Henry-Tankard Tavern
- Holiday Inn Turf
- King Neptune’s
- Lake George Beach Club
- Mario’s
- Olde Log Inn
- Prospect Mountain Diner
- The Barnsider
The bonfire on the beach lights up at 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Makings for s’mores are offered free of charge. A Hot Chocolate Bar will be open both days as well. For $5, you get a souvenir Winter Carnival travel mug full of hot chocolate, which you can flavor with syrups, chips and top with whipped cream. Fireworks shoot off over the lake both nights at 6 p.m.
Other Lake George Winter Carnival Activities
Duffy’s Tavern is continuing its Human Foosball Tournament. Play begins at 11 a.m. Get together a team of six and sign up at Duffy’s on Lower Amherst. A cash prize will be awarded to this weekend’s winning team. Duffy’s is also hosting an ATV scavenger hunt/poker run on Saturday. Contact Duffy’s at (518) 361-2559 for information about foosball and the poker run.
The Dog Cabin is hosting a dog talent show both days at 2 p.m. on the beach at Shepard Park. Sign up your canine friend; even if his/her only talent is looking cute, you have a shot at winning some Dog Cabin swag. At 3 p.m., the brave may join in the polar plunge.
Look for Zumba, 12 – 1 p.m., and children’s activities, 12 – 3 p.m., at King Neptune’s on Saturday. The Courtyard Marriot Hotel on Canada Street is also hosting arts and crafts for children in their lobby on Saturday. Both days will feature ATV rides, pony rides, carriage rides, helicopter rides and a petting zoo. For those seeking to show off their superhuman strength, there will be a keg tossing competition on the Shepard Park Beach Sunday at 4 p.m.
Other activities this weekend in Lake George Village
King Neptune’s Pub is hosting a Shepard Park fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 – 5 p.m. featuring two local favorites, the Jonathan Newell Band and the Stony Creek Band. Suggested donation for the show is $10. This is part of a fundraising campaign to match a $25,000 Charles R. Wood Foundation grant to upgrade the sound and lighting systems at the Shepard Park Amphitheater. The project also includes plans to expand seating at the popular lakeside venue. Last year, more than 70 free concerts and shows were held at the amphitheater.