Under sunny skies, the 51st Lake George Winter Carnival launched its month-long festival with opening ceremonies on Shepard Park beach. Lake George American Legion Post 374 Color Guard led the ceremonies that drew hundreds to the lakeshore Saturday morning.
In opening remarks, Village Mayor Robert Blais thanked the crowd for joining Lake George in this annual event noting, “This is the kind of weather we hope for in the summer.”
Town Supervisor Dennis Dickenson, remarking on the entrenched traditions of the Lake George Winter Carnival, shared a memory from a long-ago carnival when, as a 14-year-old boy, he climbed a maple in Shepard Park to see over the crowd as Polar Plunge participants ran into the icy lake.
After Opening Ceremonies, action moved down to Beach Road for the outhouse races. Spectators surrounded the track of snow as 10 teams vied for the Championship title. Outhouse designs ranged from a classic mossy- roofed structure to a slick bat mobile styled sleigh.
Team Judd Tavern, manned by a group of hardy young men dressed in German barmaid dirndl dresses, pushed and pulled an oversized whiskey barrel. An Adirondack Studios design took the Champion title. L.P. Adams of Dalton, MA earned second and the Home Depot team placed third.
Back at Shepard Park a chili cook-off was underway. For five dollars, chili connoisseurs sampled the creations of competing restaurants and cast ballots for their favorite. The Meat House of Saratoga garnered the most votes with the Log Jam placing second and Fort William Henry taking third prize.
Other activities in the park included a Tubby Tubes snow slide, chainsaw woodcarving on the beach, and a quick (very quick) dip into the frigid lake by two dozen bathing-suit clad attendees. Other nearby venues offered Zumba classes and monster truck rides.
The festivities concluded with a parade up Canada Street, a bonfire and marshmallow roast on the beach and fireworks over the lake.
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