Old Forge’s annual Winter Carnival weekend will be held Friday through Sunday, February 13 through 15 with events held in the village and at McCauley Mountain.
With the event taking place over Valentine’s weekend, Old Forge Loves Valentine’s Day is this year’s theme.
Winter Carnival will kick-off Friday with McCauley Mountain offering $12 lift tickets.
A Valentine-themed parade down Main Street will begin at 6:45 p.m. with former Carnival king and queen Al and Ruth Brussel in the lead in commemoration of their 60th wedding anniversary.
Following the parade there 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 its15th annual Winter Sports Challenge. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. and the event begins at 10 a.m.
Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to put together a team and snowshoe, cross country ski or walk various treks. Entry fees and pledges support KYAC, Old Forge’s Kommunity Youth Area Center.
Skiing will be available all weekend on McCauley’s 22 slopes.
Free 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 local favorites Joe Bolton and John Christy.
The coronation of this year’s king and queen, Stuart and MaryAnn Nelson, 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.
Registration for the Polar Bear Ski Club’s 6ist Annual Snowflake Derby on Sunday begins at 10 a.m. Open to skiers of all ages and abilities, the race begins at noon.
There will be three separate races: giant slalom, dual slalom, and three-person rope team.
Cardboard sled races, sponsored by the TOW 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.
Prizes will be awarded in several different categories. Registration is $5 per sled.
The race is a qualifier for the annual Adirondack Cardboard Sled Race circuit.
Added to this year’s roster of activities is a Snow Sculpture Competition open to businesses and individuals in the Towns of Webb and Inlet and surrounding communities.
Registration fee is $20 per entry and registration forms are available at the Old Forge Visitor Information Center. Judges of the contest will be the Hans Schmid family, creators of the event.
Registration forms can be sent to Hans Schmid, P.O. Box 143, Thendara NY 13472 with checks made payable to the Tayler Schmid Memorial Fund.
The grand prize winner will be announced following the Cardboard Sled Races and will receive gift certificates from local businesses and attractions.
For a schedule of the weekend’s events go to (www.VisitMyAdirondacks.com.) Winter Carnival is sponsored by the Central Adiron-dack Association (CAA), the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks, the Polar Bear Ski Club and the Town of Webb School junior class.
