The Lake George Winter Carnival 2022 kicked off Saturday, February 5, with opening ceremonies in Shepard Park. “I would like to welcome you all out of COVID into our 60th year,” said Carnival Co-chair Nancy Nichols. “Actually,” she added, “last year was our 60th. We could not have it, but we are so excited to be back!”
The first Lake George Winter Carnival was held in 1961, and its organizers, all volunteers, have kept it going, nimbly adapting schedules and events when warm winters made the necessary ice and snow scarce. Last year was an anomaly as the pandemic ruled out large gatherings. The crowds that packed Lake George Village Saturday proved that people are happy to be back on the frozen shores of Lake George.
“We’ve had so many people here today, from Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and our neighbors to the south — Albany to Manhattan, to Crown Point and Vermont, and so many others,” said Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB Executive Director Gina Mintzer. According to Mintzer, the hotels are filled, drawn to the area by all the winter activities and events, including Winter Carnival, Winterfest, skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, snowmobiling and other winter sports, and the area’s newest attraction, Ice Castles.
Opening weekend featured the Carnival’s signature event, the Outhouse Races, which were moved to Battlefield Park this year because Winter Storm Landon left a thick layer of slush on the lake. Nine outhouses competed in the Winter Carnival 2022 race, with a hometown team, TGIPD, pulling, pushing and sliding into first place.
According to one TGIPD team member, on the way to the Carnival, their outhouse fell off their truck on Route 9 in front of Sushi Yoshi restaurant, tearing off the outhouse roof. They had to make quick, on-site repairs. Despite the mishap, they won and were especially proud that a team from Lake George took home the top prize. Team Cow Pies took 2nd place. The Lagoon Bar & Grill sponsored this year’s races.
Other events included the chili-cookoff, with The View at Dunham’s Bay placing first, Blue 32 taking second place, and Charlie’s at the Marriot coming in third. Chaz and Lisa Giknis of The Dog Cabin held the Lake George Dog’s Got Talent show. The talent show is held at 2 p.m. each day of the Winter Carnival. Dogs show off their skills and general adorableness to win prizes.
The Winter Carnival 2022 parade included fire trucks and emergency vehicles from area fire companies, the Town of Lake George plow trucks and marchers with the American Red Cross. Each night of the Winter Carnival closes with a bonfire on the beach, free s’mores, a hot chocolate bar, and, on Saturdays, Fireworks. The Winter Carnival continues each weekend in February with on-ice car, truck and motorcycle races, dog sled rides and more cook-offs and dog shows. For an updated schedule of events, visit the Lake George Winter Carnival Facebook page.
Photos: Lake George Winter Carnival 2022 opening day
The Stritsman and Keeler Families of Troy, NY entered their outhouse, Schitt’s Creek, in the Carnival outhouse race.
Correction: The chili cook-off photo caption was updated to identify Miss Adirondack Ashlyn Hilts.