Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 26th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 22, 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 draws about 200 fishermen annually and 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 January 22 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. Please remember that all participants 16 and older must have a New York State fishing license to fish in the Park at any time.
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 Fourth 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 third 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 snowshoe 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 on 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. Please call ahead to determine availability.
For more information about the Winter Festival, please call the park at 518-279-1155. A full schedule of events will be posted to Grafton Lakes’ website (www.nysparks.com/parks) and on Facebook in January.
