2017 began in Lake George the way it has for decades with the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge. Nearly 1,200 registered plungers braved the cold waters while hundreds more looked on from the shore.
56th Annual Lake George Winter Carnival
The Lake George Winter Carnival opened Feb. 4. Pictured here: Sans Succi team took second place in the outhouse races, which were held at the Festival Commons in Wood Park. The Lake did freeze later in the month, but was not thick enough to support Carnival events.
Lake George Steamboat Company celebrates 200 years
The Lake George Steamboat Company launched its bicentennial year with an ice bar at the Deuce Moose Café. The yearlong celebration included special cruises, a “Rock the Dock” party on the Steel Pier and a fall festival with bounce houses and magic.
Vaudreuil’s Raid
Crown forces at Fort William Henry drive off an assault by the French in this March 18 reenactment of the 1757 Raid.
St. Patrick’s Day celebration
Sham “Rock” the Block brought a weekend of Celtic music and step dancing to Duffy’s Tavern and the St. Patrick’s Day parade to Canada Street., March 17 – 19.
LEO Weekend
In May, law enforcement officers gathered in Lake George for seminars, recreation and camaraderie. A solemn ceremony held in Shepard Park honors fallen officers. LEO Weekend returns to Lake George June 15 – 17, 2018.
Elvis comes to town
The Lake George Elvis Festival kicked off May 3. The five-day event featured concerts, parties, Elvis boat cruises and an Elvis Classic Car Parade.
Americade returns
June brought the annual Americade motorcycle touring rally. This is the event's 34th year in Lake George.
Adirondack Wine & Food Festival
More than 5,700 attend the two-day Adirondack Wine & Food Festival at the Festival Commons in Wood Park. This was the third year for the event, which brings foodies and craft beverage aficionados from across the Northeast to Lake George.
ESTRA Tow Show
The Empire State Towing & Recovery Association (ESTRA) held their annual tow show at the Festival Commons in June. This is one of several vehicles shows held in Wood Park in 2017.
Lake George Volunteer Fire Department barbecues chicken in the park
Throughout the summer and fall, Shepard Park is the place for free concerts and festivals. In July, the smell of roasting chicken filled the Village as the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department held a chicken barbecue fundraiser during a Friday Bands and Brews concert.
The solar eclipse
The first total solar eclipse to pass over the United States in more than a century didn’t miss Lake George. In this photo, sunlight filtering through trees in Shepard Park project the eclipse on the back of musician/math teacher Mac Petrequin.
Lake George Music Festival
Aug. 19, The Lake George Music Festival performed Stravinsky’s “A Soldier’s Tale” in Shepard Park, one of several concerts held throughout the area during the 14-day festival.
260th anniversary of the siege and surrender of Fort William Henry
French and Indian War reenactors gathered in Lake George this past August to reenact the siege and surrender of Fort William Henry. The French set up camp on the Festival Commons and the English entrenched in Battlefield Park along with a sutler marketplace.
Canoe sculpture unveiled on Beach Road
Chainsaw artist Paul Stark spent the summer in Lake George creating a tribute to the area’s French and Indian War history. The canoe sculpture was unveiled in September along the Lakefront Walkway on Beach Road.
Adirondack Nationals Car Show
The 29th Annual Adirondacks Nationals Car Show filled the streets with more than 1,500 pre-1980 vehicles. The event is brought to town the weekend after Labor Day by Albany Rods and Kustoms.
Dog park opens
Four-pawed friends can run free at the new Lake George Dog Park, which opened at the Village Recreation Center in August.
Jazz at the Lake
Ola Onabulé performs at the 34th Lake George Arts Project Jazz Weekend, Sept. 16, 2017.
Moonglow
Hot air balloons light up in Battlefield Park, Sept. 23, 2017. The tradition of a moonglow in Lake George began as a way to honor Adirondack Balloon Festival founder Walt Grishkot.
Bolton Landing hosts Veterans Memorial Moving Wall
The half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial arrived in Bolton Landing Sept. 20, an effort of the Bolton American Legion Post #961. The wall was opened for public viewing through the morning of Sept. 25.
Marshall Tucker Band packs the Festival Commons
A near sell-out crowd fills the Festival Commons in Wood Park for a Sept. 24 Marshall Tucker Band concert.
Oktoberfest takes over Canada Street
Carnival rides, polka bands, Bavarian dance, German food and beer attracts hundreds to Lake George for the Columbus Day Weekend Oktoberfest.
Pumpkins fly at the Adirondack Pub & Brewery Pumpkin Chunkin’
The Adirondack Pub & Brewery held its second Pumpkin Chunkin’ Nov. 4. The event included a midway with food and merchandise vendors, games and a comedy magic show along with an arsenal of devises to launch pumpkins and apples across a field.
Lake George Lite up the Village draws a record-breaking crowd
A crowd of more than 2,000 filled Shepard Park the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the 20th Annual Lite Up The Village celebration.
Great year in review. As a “newbie” to town, I’m so excited about 2018 and all the events that will be held around the region, from the Ice Bar, Polar Bar and Winter Carnival weekends coming up this winter to the Thurman Maple Days in the Spring to the Fall Farm Tours and the Adirondack Film Festival in Glens Falls in the Fall there is so much to do, see and experience! Great photos!