Lake George Fall foliage nearing peak brilliance this weekend

It’s been late coming. An unusually warm September stretched summer into autumn, but after a few cool nights, the chlorophyll that masks the brilliant golds and scarlets of the leaves is disintegrating. The foliage surrounding Lake George has begun revealing its true spectacular colors, and the continuing daytime warm weather is producing a bright display.

There are a few events of note in Lake George Village this weekend. If your leaf peeping brings you to town, you may want to check them out. The Adirondack Winery is holding its 5th Annual Drink Pink Weekend at the tasting room on Canada Street. The event, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, includes games, prizes, raffles and discounts on bottles of pink wine.

The Fundraiser Free to Breathe 5K returns to Lake George this Saturday, Oct. 14. Free to Breathe recently announce its merger with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Their goal is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research. Registration for the 5K begins at 8 a.m. at the Festival Commons in Wood Park. The Opening Rally begins at 9 a.m. The 5K follows a route through Lake George and ends back at the Festival Commons. Last year, the Free to Breath 5K in Lake George had 361 participants who raised more than $41,000.

Sunday, Oct. 15, the Lake George Steamboat Company will be closing out its bicentennial year celebrations with a Community Youth Fundraiser Cruise. The two-hour cruise aboard the Lac du Saint Sacrement includes a pasta buffet (three sauces, Caesar salad, hors d’oeuvres, dessert station) and silent auction. Several local businesses have donated auction items, including Adirondack Aromatherapy, Mario’s Restaurant, the Adirondack Winery, Bella’s Deli, Sky Zone Trampoline and the Adirondack Brewery.

Tickets for the cruise are $15 for adults, $10 for Students ages 12–18 and $8 for children ages 3–11. Boarding time is 3:30. The ship embarks at 4 p.m. Tickets may be reserved online at the Lake George Steamboat Company website. The cruise is a fundraiser for Nico’s House and the Lake George Teen Center.