Tag Archives: Christmas on Main Street

5K Run/Walk added to Christmas on Main Street

Among the many activities planned for the Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event in Old Forge—which this year covers two weekends—will be a “Let it Snow” 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, December 2.

The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Point Park in the center of town and will take participants down the decorated Main Street, through the back roads of Thendara and back.

The flat course will appeal to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities—especially if there is snow on the course. Continue reading

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Christmas on Main Street committee says thanks for great weekend

The Christmas On Main Street Committee, along with the Central Adirondack Association, would like to express their gratitude to all those who were involved in making this year’s event the largest to date.

So many visitors and locals had a great time and expressed their appreciation for all the various activities that were available throughout the weekend.

Enormous thanks to our major sponsors Community Bank, Adirondack Bank and Kinney Drugs, and the sponsors of the “Cast in Bronze” carillon show: North South Connection, Old Forge Hardware, Smith Marine and Wilderness Interiors. Continue reading

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Runners tearing down Main Street. Photo by Carol Hansen

Warm weather, festivities draw crowds to Adirondacks

Local communities host weekend events for annual Christmas on Main Street

Reindeer next to Walt's Diner attracted many onlookers. Photo by Carol Hansen

Last weekend’s An Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event was “the best ever,” according to Mike Farmer, Old Forge Tourism Director, with hundreds of visitors foregoing the city traffic and crowded malls to enjoy some hometown holiday spirit and charm.

“They came because we offer a unique shopping experience of items you won’t find in the big box stores. Plus, there were lots of family activities going on all weekend. Spirits were high—as was evidenced by the estimated crowd of 1,800 that lined Main Street for Friday night’s light parade and tree lighting,” Farmer said.

Nate Haley, age 2, tries out the Reindeer sleigh at Candyland on Friday. Photo by Carol Hansen

Farmer said the Christmas Train, which carried hundreds of passengers from Utica on Friday and Saturday, was a huge success, with many Friday passengers spending the night at area motels to enjoy an extra day of holiday fun before returning to Utica on Saturday.

Chuck Rowlee, Train Master at Thendara Station, said that the number of passengers traveling from Utica’s Union Station to Thendara Station was up fifty percent over last year. Continue reading

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Old Forge adds special events & attractions for Adirondack Christmas on Main Street weekend

New attractions have been added to the schedule for this weekend’s An Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event in Old Forge, most notably the addition of on-the-hour musical performances by the Cast in Bronze carillon from 1 to 5 p.m. outside the Old Forge Hardware.

The carillon is a four-ton medieval instrument of bells played from a mechanical keyboard with fists and feet.

Performed by a silent and masked “Spirit of the Bells,” it has appeared on the Today Show, Walt Disney World’s Epcot, and during an appearance by Pope John Paul II at New York’s Central Park. Professional photographer Becky Barrett will be taking photos of visitors in an antique sleigh outside of Mountain Greenery from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

The photos are free of charge, however donations will be accepted.

The sleigh is on-loan from local residents Mary Ann and Bill Ransom.

The Adirondack Scenic Railroad will bring passengers from Utica on Friday and Saturday.

Also on Friday and Saturday, the railroad will operate Santa Express Trains to Otter Lake and back at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Once passengers return to the Station they will be escorted by Mrs. Claus and her elves to Candyland at the historic Thendara Town Hall.

A Light Parade up Main Street will begin from the Town of Webb School at 6:15 p.m. on Friday and the Tree Lighting at Point Park will follow at 6:30 p.m. Another Tree Lighting will take place on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The weekend will also include pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Forge Motel, horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa’s reindeer, a BBQ at Ozzie’s to benefit the Polar Bear Ski Club, holiday-themed workshops at View, and the opportunity to enjoy unique Christmas shopping and holiday experiences throughout Old Forge and Inlet.

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Downtown Old Forge: Christmas tree arrives at Point Park

Christmas Tree Decorating in Old Forge

This year’s Christmas tree that now stands at the Point Park at the busy corner in Old Forge was cut down from town-owned land on Bisby Road by the Highway Department with help from Ron Parent of Parent’s Tree Service.

On Wednesday, November 12, Frontier Communications crewmen Jim Williams and Rich Snyder used two bucket loaders to string the white lights and hang red velvet bows on the higher elevations of the 20-foot fir tree.

Others helping to decorate were Department of Public Works personnel Scott Gaffney, Justin Ross, Mike Notley, Charlie Bogardus, and Jeff Peterson, and Councilwoman Kate Russell who made and provided the red bows. The white lights and red bow concept for the tree was suggested by Stuart deCamp, Russell said, adding that Lori Zellweger and a team of volunteers will soon decorate the grounds of the Point Park.

The tree will come alive at the tree lighting ceremony on Friday, November 25 following the Christmas on Main Street Light Parade.

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Adirondack Christmas on Main Street

Local businesses urged to decorate for event

The Central Adirondack Association encourages all area commercial property owners to decorate their businesses for the upcoming Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event that will be held November 25 to 27.

Anyone interested in entering their business in the Commercial Decorating Contest can call the Town of Webb Visitor Information Center at (315) 369-6983.

The winner of the contest will be announced on Friday, November 25 during the tree lighting ceremony at Point Park and will be presented with the traveling trophy Continue reading

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Christmas on Main Street adds special musical feature

This year’s An Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event in Old Forge will feature a Cast in Bronze Carillon Bells Concert on Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26, at Point Park at the busy corner.

A Carillon is a musical instrument made of cast bronze bells that was created in 1480.

It is played from a modified keyboard with the fists and feet.

The Cast in Bronze Carillon

Located in lofty bell towers throughout the world, the instrument and its player were historically hidden from sight, making the Carillon one of the world’s best kept secrets.

Lori Zellweger, a member of the Christmas on Main Street committee, is responsible for making the arrangements to bring Cast in Bronze Carillon Bells and its creator, Frank Della Penna, to Old Forge.

Several years ago she had seen Della Penna perform at the Barn Festival in Remsen and realized that the Carillon Bells could add an exciting component to the Christmas on Main Street event. Continue reading

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