Ticonderoga gears up for carnival, COVID style

TICONDEROGA | A pandemic and a long winter can't keep a good festival down, and those ready for a little entertainment will be treated to the Seventh Annual Ticonderoga End of Winter Carnival & Fireworks, COVID-19 Edition, the weekend of March 5-7. Some parts of the show will go on, some won't and some will be virtual, with both fun and safety in mind, said Matthew Courtright, president of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. This family-friendly event will include on-your-own and virtual activities, business promotions and specials, as well as fireworks. As with everything in the age of COVID, all information is subject to change, Courtright said. Regulations and all guidelines must be followed to ensure this event takes place. Guidelines include no gatherings, keeping social distance, and wearing masks. "Hosting events in 2020 and the first part of 2021 certainly has been challenging," Courtright said. "The End of Winter carnival won't be traditional, but it will happen." The festival is a production of the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership and the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce in coordination with Silver Bay YMCA, Ticonderoga Festival Guild, and Ti Automotive, as well as a number of local businesses and organizations. The committee does plan to bring back traditional aspects of this event and utilize new options as well in 2022. Meanwhile, Courtright said the festival will rely on virtual links and activities that can be enjoyed by families, including a photo scavenger hunt, a family movie night using streaming film services and games on Facebook Live. Outdoor activities include sliding in Percy Thompson Bicentennial Park, ice skating at the Town of Ticonderoga Rink, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing at Ticonderoga recreational areas and Rogers Rock Campground and snowmobiling in the Ticonderoga area. Fireworks Over Bicentennial Park will be held Saturday, at 8 p.m., and can be viewed virtually or in parked cars. The park and surrounding areas will be closed to participants but the chamber said "You may park your vehicle where it is safe and legal to view the show. If you choose to exit your vehicle you must stay next to it, wear a mask, and stay socially distanced from any other party. No gathering." Fireworks will also be live-streamed via the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce & Downtown Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership) Facebook pages so you may view them from the safety of your home. For a full list of activities, see the TACC ad elsewhere in the paper. "We're still having the festival, just in a Covid kind of way," Courtright said.

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Ticonderoga gears up for carnival, COVID style

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