Frosty Fun at the 2026 Lake George Winter Carnival
The carnival is back in town, and the Lake George Area is ready to celebrate!
The Lake George Winter Carnival returns for its 64th year, and thousands of winter enthusiasts are flocking to the center of Lake George Village for five festive-filled weekends worth of fun and excitement for the whole family.
Important Tidbits
Dates and Times
The 2026 Lake George Winter Carnival will have festivities all weekend long, on Saturdays and Sundays from February 7th through March 8th.
Events will have varied start times and lengths, so make sure to check out our Lake George Winter Carnival Highlights page for more details.
Ice-Dependent Events
In the case that Lake George doesn't freeze or doesn't meet the conditions for the events taking place on the lake, the winter carnival staff will develop backup plans and updates.
However, many events, such as the Cook-Off Competitions and Polar Plunges, don't require a frozen lake, so there will always be things to do. Regardless of weather or conditions, the Lake George Winter Carnival will carry on.
Updates
For any last-minute updates, while we do our best to update our site as soon as possible, it's highly recommended to check out the Lake George Winter Carnival Facebook page.
Tickets
Some, not all, events will require the purchasing of tickets. Certain events are FREE and open to the public, but for those with ticket prices, make sure to click on the event listings below for more information.
Parking
The Village of Lake George has street parking available along the main roads and districts, though there are public meters that require a small fee. These spots fill up quickly, so arriving early is recommended, especially on opening weekend and fireworks nights.
If you don't mind a little bit of walking, there are also multiple parking lots available within the village:
- Beach Road parking lot
- West Brook parking lot
- James Street parking lot
Please Note: These lots also have meters and kiosks.
What to Expect
There's something for everyone to enjoy at the Lake George Winter Carnival, and we mean everyone.
Some of the most popular events of the Winter Carnival include:
- Outhouse Races - Assemble a team and race your custom-built outhouses on the lake.
- AMA Motorcycle Ice Races - Race on a custom-built track carved onto the frozen lake.
- Cook-Off Competitions - Purchase a judges ticket and sample different dishes featured each week, including chili, bbq, and mac and cheese.
- ATV Poker Runs - Experience the thrills of Lake George on an ATV and collect poker chips to earn prizes.
- Polar Plunges - Take a nice frosty dip into the lake water with your friends or family.
There are plenty more festivities to enjoy throughout each weekend, including a fireworks show every Saturday night!
So check out below to see all the events and activities happening during the carnival season, and be a part of a Lake George Area winter tradition since 1961.
For the full schedule of activities, check out our Lake George Winter Carnival Happenings page.
