The Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 30th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 24. The Winter Fest will feature outdoor events along with indoor exhibits, food vendors and family-friendly and recreational activities. The event is free of charge and main events run from 10 am to 4 pm.
New outdoor events this year include free snowmobile rides as well as a “Battle for Long Pond” hockey tournament. For the kids, Winter Fest offers its popular snow bowling hill, revamped and improved, as well as snowshoe races and rides with the charming Northland
Newfoundlands. Adults can join in a guided snowshoe or cross country ski outing or borrow snowshoes for a free demo around the Park. Fans of four legged creatures will enjoy the horse drawn carriage rides from Indian Creek Farms, a guided morning walk for dogs, as well as the tail wagging canines from Rensselaer County Search & Rescue and Out of the Pits Pitbull Rescue.
The Eighth Annual Polar Plunge benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation charges into Long Pond at 1 pm. This year the Plunge includes a playful prize for the silliest costume, offered by the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park, so start planning your January beach attire! To pre-register for the Plunge, please call Margaret Philips for more information at 479-3739 or call the Park office.
Visitors who need to warm up can savor some hot food from Brunswick Barbecue and the local Our Lady of the Snow Parish while enjoying indoor exhibits. Live birds of prey, kids’ nature crafts and a variety of regional community and conservation organizations will entertain patrons.
The annual ice fishing contest draws several hundred anglers and will run from 5:30 am to 3 pm on all the ponds in the Park. Participants can register starting at 5:30 am until 11 the morning of the event at the Park’s pole barn. A $10 entry fee for adults 16 and older is required to participate in the fishing tournament. All first place adult winners will receive a $300 cash prize this year, awarded for the longest length catch of trout, walleye/chain pickerel and yellow perch. Children may enter at no charge and winning entries will receive gift certificates and other prizes. Please remember that all participants 16 and older must have a New York State fishing license to fish in the Park at any time.
For more information about the Winter Festival, or for directions, please call the Park at 518-279-1155.