More than 200 braved blustery winds and snow flurries in Shepard Park Saturday night, Nov. 24, for the 15th annual “Lite up the Village” celebration. The event marks the transition of this lakeside village from sun-dappled autumn to the deep chill of Adirondack winter, when brilliant fall foliage is replaced with thousands of LED lights strung throughout the park and twined around the street light poles. Illuminated snowflakes encircle the village streetlamps, drenching the main thoroughfare in white light to rival the absent sun.
Singer Cyndie Wade-Wood led the crowd in a sing-along of Christmas favorites, luring first-time attendees to the amphitheatre stage to perform “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Magician Mr. Twisty took the stage with his comedic magic show that included the hoop-jumping dachshund Izzy.
Lake George Town Board members and Village Trustees, led by Village Mayor Robert Blais, sang a hearty “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and the switches were thrown as fireworks exploded over McDonald Pier and Santa pulled up to the park in a Lake George Volunteer Fire Department truck.
The celebration continued at the firehouse where the Lake George Community Band entertained with Christmas music, and children lined up for a turn on Santa’s lap.
The lights will glow through New Years, with the street light snowflakes in front of Shepard Park remaining lit through the Winter Carnival in February. Northbound travelers on the Northway will find a cheerful break from the long, dark winter nights by taking a slight detour from their route through the Village of Lake George between exits 21 and 22 as 2012 draws to a close.
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