Starting later this month, Lake George Village has events on three Saturdays in a row. On November 21 people plunge into the lake at Shepard Park. On November 28 Canada Street closes for the lights, the fireworks and the parade. On December 5 the village holds its first SantaCon, which moves into eight bars and restaurants and is capped at about 150 people.
All three Saturdays take place within about a quarter mile of each other. Each one is centered on a different part of the village: the shoreline first, then the main street, then the bars and restaurants. The Fort William Henry Hotel hosts Breakfast with Santa on four Saturdays from November 28 through December 19, so on December 5 it holds both a Santa breakfast and the SantaCon check-in on the same day.
November 21: the shoreline at Shepard Park
The first Saturday is the 2026 Lake George Polar Plunge for Special Olympics New York, held at Shepard Park. Special Olympics New York calls this the 18th annual Lake George plunge. Its event FAQ lays out a tentative timeline for the day:
- 8 to 10 a.m.: Cool School registration
- 10 a.m.: Cool School plunge
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Open Plunge registration
- 1 p.m.: top five teams and sponsors plunge
- 1:30 p.m.: Open Plunge
There is no entry fee. Each individual plunger has to raise at least $25, and Special Olympics New York says that minimum is mandatory this year. Plungers who raise $100 get an official Polar Plunge hoodie on the day, and those who raise $250 or more qualify for extra incentives that are mailed after the event. You can turn in donations at the registration area as cash, check, money order or credit card. The organizer asks participants to watch their email for updates before the day.
This is the only one of the three Saturdays that happens in daylight at the water's edge. The other two move up into the village.
November 28: Canada Street closes for the lights
A week later, the 28th annual Lite Up the Village takes over Canada Street and Beach Road. The event began in 1998 and is free. The main gathering spots are Shepard Park and the Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park. According to Visit Lake George's event page, the 2026 schedule is set:
| Time | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 p.m. | Block party begins with live music, carriage rides, firepits with food and walking tours with carolers | Along Canada Street |
| 6:25 p.m. | More than 7,000 lights switch on at once | Canada Street, Beach Road, Shepard Park, Festival Commons |
| 6:30 p.m. | Fireworks | Over the lakefront |
| 6:40 p.m. | Parade of Holiday Lights with illuminated fire trucks and decorated floats | Down Canada Street, ending at the Lake George Volunteer Fire House |
The county tourism office's 2026 holiday events guide says the event runs from 3 to 8 p.m. and goes ahead rain, snow or shine. It also lists an ugly sweater contest. The event page says Santa and Mrs. Claus have appeared in past parades and may come again this year.
If you live off one of the side streets, you'll notice the closures most. Canada Street closes, along with the starting blocks of these streets:
- Mountain Drive
- Amherst Street
- Lower Amherst Street
- Montcalm Street
- Kurosaka Lane
- McGillis Avenue
The tourism office recommends parking in the public lots near the village or on streets outside the main event area, and warns that spaces fill quickly.
The block party starts at 3 p.m. and the lights don't go on until 6:25, which leaves an afternoon on Canada Street for some holiday shopping. The county's local holiday shopping guide names The Dog Cabin, Love is on Lake George and Molly Malone's Irish Gifts among the Canada Street shops that stay open through the season.
The Fort William Henry Saturdays in between
On Lite Up morning, the Fort William Henry Hotel holds the first of its Breakfast with Santa mornings. The dates are November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19, from 7 to 11 a.m. Santa arrives at 8 a.m., and the morning includes breakfast and cookie decorating. More details are on the Breakfast with Santa event page.
On two of those Saturdays the hotel has a second event on the calendar. On November 28, breakfast wraps up at 11 a.m., four hours before the block party starts. On December 5, it wraps up an hour before SantaCon check-in opens at the same hotel.
December 5: SantaCon at eight village stops
The newest event on the village's holiday calendar is the first Lake George SantaCon, on Saturday, December 5, from noon to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Registration and check-in are at Lakeside Restaurant at Fort William Henry. Your ticket includes:
- An official SantaCon wristband
- A commemorative SantaCon T-shirt
- Entry to the festivities at each participating venue
There is no set route. Participants visit the stops in any order and at their own pace, with holiday food and drink specials along the way. Fort William Henry lists eight participating stops:
- Lakeside Restaurant & Lounge
- Adirondack Pub & Brewery
- Charlie's Bar & Kitchen
- Duffy's Tavern
- Jamo's Pub
- The Lagoon
- The Garrison
- TR's Restaurant & Lounge
The event also raises money. Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to registration for a local charity, and net proceeds go to the Adirondack Vet House.
SantaCon is much smaller than the other two Saturdays. Lite Up the Village is free and fills Canada Street and the side streets around it. The organizers of SantaCon plan a first-year capacity of about 150 participants and say space is limited for the first year. The county tourism listing describes it as the start of a new tradition and invites people to "join early." If you want to go, you'll need a ticket in advance.
The village behind this year's calendar
The three Saturdays take place in a village that changed this year. In July the Lake George Examiner reported that the new Shepard Park Performance Stage was newly built, with a dedication and ribbon cutting scheduled for July 17. In the same report, the Examiner said village workers were expected to add new playground equipment later that summer. The park where people gather on plunge day and Lite Up night looks different from last year's.
The Lagoon is one of the SantaCon stops. It has been open year-round, seven days a week. In March the Glens Falls Business Journal reported that its owners bought the Village Mall property and plan to renovate it in phases. Expanding the lakeside deck and winterizing the building are their first priorities, with phase one targeted for "next winter."
Montcalm Street, one of the Lite Up closures, is also where Caffè Vero now has its new home. The coffee shop's website gives its address as 35 Montcalm Street, in the building that used to house Lake George Hardware, around the corner from its old location.
There's one gap in the season for anyone hoping to skate. Visit Lake George's ice skating guide, published November 5, lists rinks in nearby towns such as Bolton Landing and Glens Falls but none in Lake George Village. After December 5, the next big event on the shoreline is the New Year's Day Polar Plunge on January 1. Visit Lake George's New Year's guide will have the details.
Between November 21 and December 5, the village has a plunge, a parade and its first SantaCon. If you own a home here and are wondering how it would show during a December like this one, or what it's worth before the spring market, Sherwood Group, LLC can talk it through over coffee in the village. What's your property worth? We're happy to help you find out.
