Lake George Winter Carnival's 60th year: a record-breaker

LAKE GEORGE | Winter Carnival's fourth weekend, and all its February weekend editions in 2022 — were a rousing success, Carnival official Nancy Nichols said as the last day of the festival concluded. "All I can say is that Lake George Winter Carnival has been 'rockin' it' this year!" she said Feb. 27. Not only were there the largest-ever crowds for the carnival each weekend this year, but almost all of the thousands of people appeared to be thoroughly enjoying their experience, Nichols said. Nichols is an authoritative source for such information because she's been helping plan and conduct Lake George Winter Carnival since the late 1970s. "I've never seen so many smiling people as I have this year," she said. "After many months of staying inside due to COVID, people have been so happy to go outside, enjoy socializing and the fun activities, breathe the fresh air and just relax," she said. This year, the crowds absolutely broke all records, Nichols said. The mac-and-cheese cookoff was extremely popular, with hundreds of people lining up to get their hands on a serving, Nichols continued. "You have no idea how long the lines were," she said. Three hundred kits enabling people to tie-dye their own T-shirt in the snow were sold soon after they were made available on Saturday. "I've never seen anything like it," Nichols said. Carnival officials also said that hundreds of people lined up to buy Lake George Winter Carnival souvenirs at the Carnival's concession stand near the lake. Nichols reported that on Sunday, a snowman construction contest was held — and dozens of families, couples, and individuals of all ages enjoyed the activity. "People had so much fun," Nichols said. Also, the keg-toss contest and frypan-toss competition had a record number of entrants. The Dogs Got Talent contest was a substantial hit, attracting hundreds of spectators. The contest routinely featured at least 15 dogs demonstrating their talents, whether it was crooning, dancing, trotting in a figure-eight between people's legs, or merely rolling over on command, organizer Lisa Giknis said Feb. 27. One dog showed its talent of counting — his human counterpoint would raise any number of her fingers, and the dog would tap its nose on her other hand the corresponding times — accurately counting the fingers raised, amazing the spectators, Giknis said. Nichols said the Carnival's "dog-friendly" policy had prompted a record number of dogs to be brought to the festival. Also, Nichols said that each weekend this year, there were far more polar swimmers than in recent decades. "The colder the temperature was, the more people went for a swim," she said. Nichols said the efforts of Warren County Tourism Department employees were a key factor in the Carnival's popularity. "2022 has been the most phenomenal, fantastic, amazing year for the Winter Carnival that I could ever imagine — perfect for the event's 60th anniversary," she said.

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Lake George Winter Carnival's 60th year: a record-breaker

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