Lake George will usher in the holiday season with the Lite up the Village 2022 celebration on Saturday, Nov. 26 in Shepard Park on Canada Street. Festivities begin a 4 p.m. when Bobby Dick and Susie Q will take the stage with a kid-friendly music show. Singer/songwriter Rich Ortiz, a local favorite, will follow the duo.
The Adirondacks Ugly Sweater Contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. Anyone may participate, just show up wearing an outrageous holiday sweater. First prize is a $100 gift certificate. For Lite up the Village 2022, organizers have added a children’s division for anyone age 13 and younger.
At 5:45, the Gem Theatre Dancing Witches will perform followed by a community sing-along led by Bobby Dick, Susie Q and Rich Ortiz. At 6:30 p.m., the switches will be thrown to illuminate the more than 10,000 lights strung through Shepard and Blais Parks. A fireworks display over the lake and a parade of lighted firetrucks and other apparatus will follow the lighting.
The firetruck parade will escort Santa and Mrs. Claus up Canada Street to the Lake George Firehouse on Ottawa Street. Families may visit Santa there and enjoy a concert of holiday music performed by The Lake George Community Band.
The annual holiday celebration draws several thousand to Lake George each year and Village Mayor Bob Blais expects thousands to attend Lite up the Village 2022. “This is the Village’s biggest event of the year,” Blais said in a press statement. “Come early and find a place to park. Dress with your crazy sweater and enjoy a great family evening.”
Village of Lake George shopkeepers will be offering special sales and refreshments for holiday shoppers throughout the day. Students with the Lake George Teen Center will be serving hot chocolate in the park, and members of the Winter Carnival will be passing out information about Lake George Winter Carnival 2023, which opens the first weekend in February.
There is no charge for parking as Village meter enforcement will be suspended for the weekend. The Village is asking people to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Lite up the Village to donate to the Tri-County Marines’ annual toy drive.