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Lite Up the Village | Lake George | November 29, 2025

Saturday, November 29, 2025
3:00 PM 10:00 PM

Lake George Village 1 Beach Road Lake George, NY, 12845 United States (map)

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Lite Up the Village 2025: Lake George’s Holiday Kickoff Shines Bright on November 29

A sparkling start to the season.

If you’re looking for that first deep breath of holiday spirit — the warm-and-fuzzy kind that arrives with twinkle lights, festive music, and the unmistakable smell of woodsmoke drifting over Lake George — mark your calendar. The 27th Annual Lite Up the Village returns on Saturday, November 29, 2025, transforming downtown Lake George into a glowing, family-friendly winter wonderland.

This free celebration is one of the Adirondack Park’s most beloved holiday traditions, drawing visitors from across the North Country to enjoy live music, carriage rides, a parade of holiday lights, and a spectacular fireworks show reflecting off the lake. If you love community events with heart, this one shines.

What’s happening throughout the afternoon?

Holiday carriage ride in Lake George Village. — Carriage rides in Lake George.

Festivities begin at 3 pm, and Lake George doesn’t ease into the holiday cheer — it flips the switch from “late-fall village” to “storybook celebration” instantly. Along Canada Street and Beach Road, visitors will find:

Carriage rides & bounce houses (3–5:30 pm)
Live music, including the Newell Family (3–4 pm), Rich Ortiz (4–4:30 pm), and Susie Q & Matt Donnelly (4:30–5:45 pm)
Vendors and local businesses offering treats, warm drinks, and early-holiday shopping
Family-friendly activities sprinkled throughout Shepard Park and the Festival Commons

Kids will love the energy. Adults will appreciate the nostalgia. Everyone will get swept up in the small-town holiday magic that Lake George does so well.

Holiday contests, sing-alongs, and Santa sightings.

The late afternoon keeps the momentum going with a few crowd favorites:

Do your worst. Don your craziest, ugliest sweater for Lake George’s annual competition.

Crazy & Ugly Sweater Contest (5:45–6:15 pm) with Lake George Radio host Walt Adams
Holiday sing-along & countdown (6:15–6:25 pm) — a community moment guaranteed to warm even the iciest November evening
Santa and friends greet visitors at the Lake George Firehouse after the parade.

If you’ve attended in past years, you know the sweater contest gets competitive. If you haven’t, consider this your invitation to bring your boldest, strangest, most blinding knit masterpiece.

The big light-up moment.

At 6:25 pm, it happens — the moment the Village comes alive in a wash of color and sparkle.

More than 7,000 holiday lights ignite across Canada Street, Beach Road, Shepard Park, and the Festival Commons, creating a full-village glow that feels straight out of a classic holiday movie. It’s a sight to behold and one of the best photo ops of the season.

Fireworks over the lake.

Just five minutes later, at 6:30 pm, Lake George treats visitors to a fireworks show over the waterfront, with bursts of color reflecting off the lake. It’s one of the most magical fireworks backdrops in the Adirondack Park, and a favorite moment for kids and holiday traditionalists alike.

Parade of Holiday Lights.

At 6:40 pm, the annual Parade of Holiday Lights steps off along Canada Street. Expect:

Decorated floats
Illuminated fire trucks
Local groups and businesses
Seasonal music
Surprise characters (yes, Santa and friends make an appearance. Duh.)

Lake George Village Lite Up the Village parade float. — Lite Up the Village Parade float.

The parade ends at the Lake George Volunteer Fire House, where families can grab photos, warm up, and enjoy post-parade cheer.

After the parade: keep the celebration going.

Visitors are encouraged to stay downtown after the parade to enjoy:

Hot cocoa and treats
Local restaurants with seasonal menus
Shops offering gifts, artisan goods, and holiday specials
The fully lit Village ambience

Supporting local businesses is a massive part of what makes this event meaningful. Lake George shops and restaurants prep for this weekend all year — spending a few dollars locally goes a long way toward keeping this community vibrant.

Tips for planning your visit.

Arrive early. Parking fills quickly, and the best viewing spots go fast.
Dress for Adirondack weather. Temperatures drop as soon as the sun sets behind Prospect Mountain.
Book lodging now. Hotels and inns in the Village often fill for the Lite Up weekend.
Bring your camera. The lighting moment and fireworks are photogenic favorites.
Make a weekend of it. Early winter in Lake George is peaceful, scenic, and full of holiday charm.

A beloved tradition for over 25 years.

This event began as a small village celebration nearly three decades ago and has grown into one of the Lake George Area’s signature annual gatherings. More than anything, it’s a reminder of why community matters — shared joy, local pride, and the collective glow of thousands of lights kicking off the holiday season together.

For more information, visit the website or Facebook page.