Lake George Winter Carnival starts today

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. » The monthlong Lake George Winter Carnival begins Saturday with a full slate of activities, including a parade, outhouse races, chili cookoff, cooking demonstrations and 6 p.m. fireworks display.

The event is held each Saturday and Sunday throughout February, a news release said.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for noon on the pier at Shepard Park, followed by wild and zany outhouse races at 12:30 p.m. on the ice. A chili cook-off begins at the same time at the park amphitheater.

At 3 p.m., chef Mike Burdick will host a cooking demonstration.

Next comes the parade, starting at 4 p.m. at Fort William Henry, heading north on Canada Street.

Beginning at 4:45 p.m., s’mores and hot chocolate will be offered at Shepard Park, to keep people warm until fireworks begin.

Super Bowl Sunday activities include youth hockey contests at 11 a.m., make-your- own sundaes beginning at 11:30 a.m. and a keg toss at 2 p.m. at Shepard Park.

Several activities are held both Saturday and Sunday such as a human foosball tournament at the Duffy’s Tavern parking lot (11 a.m.). Participants are tied to a series of poles and try to kick a ball into the opponent’s goal, just like a tabletop foosball game, the release said.

There are also children’s activities, face painting and pony rides (all from noon to 3 p.m.), a Lake George Dog’s Got Talent Contest (2 p.m.), Polar Plunge (3 p.m.) along with helicopter tours and horse- drawn carriage and sleigh rides.

Week II (Feb. 10-11) kicks off with an ATV scavenger hunt, sanctioned car races on the ice and a barbecue cook-off. In addition, sanctioned sno- cross races are scheduled for WarrenCounty Fairgrounds in Warrensburg from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Sanctioned car races will take place on the ice at Lake George from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Another cooking demonstration is set for

3 p.m. Sunday along with a snowman building contest from 3-4 p.m.

Weekend III (Feb. 17-18) starts the long President’s Week holiday. Carnival fund begins Saturday with an ATV scavenger hunt, chowder cook-off, open mic and New York State-sanctioned motorcycle and ATV races on the ice.

Motorcycle and ATV races continue Sunday, along with youth hockey, an AFLAC duck race at Shepard Park Beach (1 p.m.) and a 3 p.m. cooking demonstration.

TheCarnival concludes on Week IV (Feb. 24-25) with

sanctioned snowmobile ice drag races from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the lake near Shepard Park, a chicken wing cook- off (12:30 p.m.) and open mic. Sunday’s activities are sanctioned car races on the ice from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a Glacier Golf Tournament (12:30 p.m.), AFLAC duck race (1 p.m.) and Bloody Mary contest voting (3 p.m.).

Fireworks are held at 6 p.m. each Saturday during the Carnival.

All events are held weather and condition permitting. For more information, go to: lakegeorgewintercarnival.com.