Photos: Car enthusiasts pour into Lake George for Adirondack Nationals

On a usual Saturday morning in September, the streets of Lake George Village are fairly calm. Tourists would be out strolling along the sidewalks looking for breakfast and doing some early window shopping. People are out walking their dogs, enjoying the cool early autumn breeze.  Parking is plentiful. But, this is Car Show Weekend. The Adirondack Nationals are in town.

Albany Rods & Kustoms held their first Adirondack Nationals car show in 1988 with 268 vehicles. The event has grown over the decades to become one of the biggest exhibitions of classic and muscle cars on the East Coast with 1,500 pre-1980s vehicles and nearly 250 vendors.

By 10:30 this morning, a bumper-to-bumper stream of cars traveled the Northbound lane of State Route 9 into the Village. Both sides of Canada Street were lined with spectators who were set up for the day with camp chairs and coolers. The public parking lots and metered spots along the Village streets were filled, and the churches and village residents were doing a brisk business opening their lawns for parking.

The air was filled with exhaust fumes, the roar of revving engines and rumbling exhaust systems, and occasionally, squealing tires. Although, for safety reasons, burn-outs are prohibited, the black-streaked streets, particularly on a stretch of Route 9 some call Burn-Out Hill, are evidence that there are scofflaws in town.

While the signs and sounds of the show are all over town, the show proper is set up at the Fort William Henry Hotel on Canada Street where attendees may purchase entrance wristbands for $20. The highlight of the show is “Cruisin’ on Canada Street.” From 7 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday night, car show participants show off their vehicles in a parade that loops along Beach Road and Canada Street. Route 9 is closed to all other traffic from 6:15 p.m. to 1 a.m. both nights, and vehicles must detour to the Village back Streets.

Photos: Adirondack Nationals Car Show 2024