The green beer was flowing and the taverns were standing room only this weekend as Sham “Rock” the Block brought crowds to Lake George this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The block party saw a handful of people outdoors around fire pits, but freezing temperatures and blustery winds sent most inside to raise a pint in honor of Ireland’s patron saint.
Duffy’s Tavern hosts the annual celebration with a two-day schedule of Celtic music, games, pony rides and bounce houses. Businesses throughout Lake George offered specials on corned beef dishes, draughts of Guinness and shots of Jamison Irish Whiskey. The Adirondack Winery offered visitors to their Canada Street tasting room a free sample of their Shamrock Sangria. New this year, the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and CVB held a Sham “Rock” the Block Vendor Fair.
The vendor fair, held at the Lake George Holiday Inn on Saturday, featured area merchants and organizations offering samples, information and shopping opportunities. “We’re really excited to see everyone her sampling and buying a variety of products,” says Chamber Marketing Director Amada May Metzger. A steady stream of people moved through the vendor area browsing through displays of apparel, jewelry, handbags, hair accessories, craft beverages, therapeutic oils, lotions and soaps. DJ Chas Giknis provided music with several Irish tunes on his playlist. Metzger noted that the participating vendors are a microcosm of Lake George Chamber members, which illustrates the diversity of goods and services available in the Lake George region.
Sunday afternoon, the Lake George St. Patrick’s Day parade stepped off from West Brook Road and traveled up Canada Street to Shepard Park. Three pipe bands — Galloway Gaelic, NYS Corrections Emerald Society and the Schenectady Pipe Band — marched in this year’s parade along with representatives from local businesses and organizations.
Engines from the Lake George, Bay Ridge and North Queensbury Fire Departments brought up the rear blasting Dropkick Murphy tunes. The Lake George Warriors Boys’ basketball team, freshly home from their state championship win, held a place of honor riding on top of a Lake George Fire Department engine. Following the parade, the pipe bands gathered outside Duffy’s Tavern and jointly performed Scotland the Brave, The Green Hills of Tyrol and Amazing Grace.
Not long ago, March was so slow, they put the village traffic lights on blinking yellow. Today on a cold breezy Sunday, the street was lined for a great parade with 3 pipe and drum bands and our State.Championship High School Basket Ball Team riding atop ours and surrounding fire districts apparatus. Big difference. More traffic in town and more stores and eateries open than past means more permanent residents then past. I think the area is growing again and a great time to buy.