Lake George Winter Carnival, New York

Winter birthdays in New England mean you have to get a bit creative. You have to travel south for warmer weather, or travel north and embrace the cold. I usually do the later, involving the winter weather in my birthday plans. Last year I turned 36 and to celebrate, we headed north to Lake George, New York. Lake George has their famous winter carnival all through the month of February. My birthday landed on the weekend so we loaded the kids in the car and headed to the famous lake in the Adirondacks. 

Holiday lights downtown Lake George during the Winter Carnival

If you haven't heard of the winter carnival, it's a celebration of winter with the lake front stage and center. The Lake George Winter Carnival started in 1961 and has run ever since. There are a series of events hosted on the lake (or in alternate locations if it has been a warm year). The carnival runs every weekend (Friday to Sunday), typically through the month of February. This year, the carnival runs from January 31st through March 2nd. There is a schedule set for every weekend with a variety of activities. Most events happen in the area of Shepard Park, and if you head to the winter carnival (check the calendar first to see what events are on what days), you can expect to find free s'mores, an ATV poker run, motorcycle and ATV ice racing, dog talent shows, outhouse races, glacier golf tournaments, a chili cook-off, a parade, a polar plunge, karaoke, cocoa, fireworks, and so much more. Some events are free, and some events require advanced registration and purchased tickets. You can see the schedule here and buy tickets for the various events.

Here is an example schedule (starting this weekend)

Chowder samples - Lake George Winter Carnival

On top of the Winter Carnival, Lake George has restaurants, cafes, stores, and a host of other fun events in town. We bought tickets to the chowder fest, walked through town with stops at the playground, and spent some time at the arcade, thankfully open in the winter. The downtown area is lit up at night and if you enjoy the winter, Lake George's Winter Carnival is the perfect place to celebrate it. 

Winter's Dream Lake George

Winter's Dream Lake George

Extra events: Winter's Dream at Fort William Henry Historic Fortress
Last year, Lake George Winter's Dream was hosted at the Fort William Henry Historic Fortress right downtown. The show is a light show set to music with interactive exhibits. It's a celebration of winter that spans all ages, something our 3 year old loved as much as we did. While the show isn't happening this year, it will be back next year for the winter of 2025/2026.  

Lodging
When planning lodging, a lot of the smaller cottage style motels are closed for the season. Hotels are open but options can be a bit more limited with dogs, so I recommend you book early. We looked on AirBnb and found Green Haven Cottages had a few cottages open for the winter season. They were dog-friendly and the perfect family-friendly space with two bedrooms and a kitchen. Check out the resort here. 

Arcade, Lake George

Playing on the sled at the resort