The grass in Lake George Village is still buried under winter’s snow, but there was plenty of green to be seen this past weekend, March 14-15, at the 5th annual Sham “Rock” the Block party. The St. Patrick’s Day celebration featured non-stop live music, a beer garden, Celtic games, hay wagon rides, a petting zoo and pony rides.
Crowds filled Duffy’s Tavern on both days to lift a pint, enjoy an Irish menu and listen to both traditional Celtic and rock music. A large, heated tent, erected alongside Lower Amherst housed a beer wagon, bounce house and vendors selling t-shirts and craft items. Sham “Rock” the Block is a true block party, with barricades closing the street to traffic allowing celebrants to freely roam.
More than 70 signed up for Saturdays pub crawl, requiring the Village trolley to double up on runs carrying “crawlers,” who took a tour of Village taverns. Sunday the pipes were calling as the St. Patrick’s Day parade stepped off at noon. The New York State Corrections Emerald Pipe Band led the procession up Canada Street, followed by the fire department, area Girl Scouts, the Oriental Shriners and representatives from local businesses in vehicles decorated for the Irish holiday. Village Mayor Robert Blais served as Grand Marshall for this year’s parade.
The Sham “Rock” the Block party was first held in 2011, an initiative of business owners on Lower Amherst Street. That first year it was a one-day event. In 2012, it expanded to cover the entire weekend and added the Village’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade.