Old Forge’s annual Winter Carnival weekend will be held Friday through Sunday, February 14 through 16 with events held in the village and at McCauley Mountain.
With the event taking place on Valentine’s Day and in the midst of the 2014 Winter Olympics, the Winter Carnival committee has announced, “We LOVE the Olympics,” as this year’s theme.
Selected to serve as the Winter Carnival King and Queen are Tim and Patty Foley of Old Forge.
As longtime skiers and supporters of the Polar Bear Ski Club, the Foleys were instrumental in helping to resurrect the Winter Carnival—an early-day annual tradition that had gone dormant for decades.
It was Tim’s fond childhood memories of the early Winter Carnival, coupled with a mission to shine more light on McCauley Mountain as a community asset, that motivated he and Patty to form a committee of like-minded individuals in the mid-1990’s.
“We’re thrilled with the honor. And we intend to have as much fun as possible and to help make Winter Carnival the success it has been for the last 20 years,” Tim said.
Winter Carnival will kick-off with a parade down Main Street at 6:45 p.m. Following will be an ice skating party at the Joy Tract Road rink featuring a bonfire, music and hot cocoa.
On Saturday, the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks will host its14th annual Winter Sports Challenge beginning at 10 a.m.
Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to put together a team to snowshoe, cross country ski or walk various treks.
Entry fees and pledges support KYAC, Old Forge’s Kommu-nity Youth Activity Center.
Night skiing will begin on Playmate at 5 p.m. Dinner will be available at the Last Run Café and live music will be provided by Joe Bolton and John Christy.
The coronation of the king and queen will take place under the ice castle at 7 p.m.
The crowd will be entertained with daredevil jumping by Polar Bear skiers and a torchlight ski show by the Town of Webb School Alpine Ski Team. The grand finale of the outdoor activities will be a spectacular firework display over the mountain, which will be followed by more music and dancing in the chalet.
The Polar Bear Ski Club’s 60th Annual Snowflake Derby, open to skiers of all ages and abilities, will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
In recognition of the event’s 60th year, the Polar Bears are offering free registration to all 60 year olds or anyone providing proof that they participated in the inaugural race.
Cardboard sled races, sponsored by the Town of Webb School junior class, will begin at 3 p.m. All entries must be constructed entirely of cardboard, tape and paint. No wood, metal, or other construction materials are allowed. Registration is $5 per sled.
For a schedule of the weekend’s events go to www.VisitMyAdirondacks.com. Winter Carnival is a Central Adirondack Association event.