Courtesy Lake George Winterfest
Starting this Saturday, and running through the final three Saturdays in February, the Lake George Winterfest will run a short fireworks show at 7 p.m., the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and CVB announced today.
Each will last, at most, 10 minutes, the announcement says.
“It's a short show to discourage any crowds from amassing. And, the show will launch from the Fort William Henry, appearing more overhead than normal, giving people less of a reason to seek a better viewing point elsewhere,” wrote Gina Mintzer in the email. Mintzer is the Executive Director of the Lake George Chamber.
To provide additional viewing areas, Beach Road will be closed to vehicular traffic between Canada Street and Westbrook Road from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. People can use the street to observe but are asked not to congregate.
Volunteers from Sysco, the Lake George Chamber and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce will help disburse crowds.
“The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival had to cancel their fireworks due to crowds gathering,” Mintzer wrote. “We believe our abbreviated, overhead show, with additional and large viewing areas will not face the same crowd issues theirs did.”
Winterfest has replaced the perennial Lake George Winter Carnival this year. In past years, the carnival has attracted crowds, and local leaders feared it might create a COVID superspreader event this year.
Christian Dutcher, who runs the Americade motorcycle rally (which was also cancelled this year), developed the Winterfest as an alternative. Participants for many events must have purchased a wristband, and the events are spread throughout the region. Generally, events such as the fireworks, are free.
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise has reported that the annual Saranac Lake Festival held one fireworks show, but town leaders feared they were breaking the state’s COVID guidance when the crowds grew too large and the people congregated too closely. Fearing that they could face trouble, the leadership cancelled the second of two fireworks shows, stories in the Enterprise said. For more on the fireworks in Saranac Lake, read here, here and here.