The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton Lakes State Park To Hold 25th Annual Winter Festival

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Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 25th Annual Winter Festival on Saturday, February 6, from 10 am to 4 pm. The Winter Fest will feature winter exhibits, vendors, family-friendly and recreational activities. The Winter Fest is free of charge.
The annual ice fishing contest, sponsored by Trout Unlimited Home Waters Chapter, will run from 5 am to 3 pm on all the ponds in the Park. Participants can call the Park Office for information about pre-registering or register starting at 5 am on February 6 at the Park’s maintenance shop. A $12 entry fee for adults 16 and older is required to participate in the fishing tournament. Children may enter at no charge.
The Winter Festival offers environmental and recreational workshops and outings, including snow sculpture and snowball throwing contests for the kids, horse drawn sleigh rides and dog sled rides and live animal exhibits. The 3rd Annual Polar Plunge into Long Pond will take place at 1 pm and benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Participation is limited to the first fifty registrants. To pre-register, participants may call Margaret Philips of the East Greenbush Master Swimmers’ Club at 479-3739.
The Park will also host the second Art in the Park exhibit and silent auction in the maintenance shop with proceeds benefitting the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park. There will be snowshoe and cross country ski outings throughout the Park at levels for all ages to enjoy. Free snowshoes and cross country ski rentals will be available at our main beach area at the Eastern Mountain Sports Display from 10 am to 2 pm. Hot food is also sold during the event.
Visitors may ice skate at Long Pond if conditions permit and rent snowshoes from the Park office throughout the winter. Snowshoe rental rates are $5 for four hours, and group rates are available.
For more information about the Winter Festival, please call the Park at 518-279-1155. For additional information about New York State parks, please visit our website at www.nysparks.com.