LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – It’s a new year, full of new possibilities. With New Year’s Eve celebrations over and done with, it’s time to settle into some old and new winter favorites in Lake George – and wait for the lake to freeze.

Ice Castles is expected to make its return to Charles R. Wood Festival Commons this month. Meanwhile, Lake George Winterfest has just started, offering deals around town until March. The town and village of Lake George are making more and more efforts to become a multi-season destination – so here are some of the destinations worth making time for in the first weeks of 2023.

  • Polar Plunge
    • Noon – 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1
    • Shepard Park Beach, Lake George
    • Participants plunge into the cold January waters of Lake George, raising money for the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department and Springfield Shriners Hospital
    • $10 registration fee
  • New Year’s Frostbite Cruise
    • Noon – 2:30 p.m.
    • Lake George Shoreline Cruises, 2 Kurosaka Lane, Lake George
    • 36th annual New Year’s Day cruise, featuring drinks, comfort food, and live music by Funk Evolution
    • $45
  • New Year’s Brunch at Radici
    • Sunday, Jan. 1
    • Radici Kitchen & Bar, 26 Ridge St., Glens Falls
    • Prix fixe brunch menu including bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys
  • New Year’s Brunch at The Hitching Post
    • Sunday, Jan. 1
    • The Hitching Post Tavern, 1256 Route 9N, Lake Luzerne
    • Brunch menu includes cheese boards, nachos, salads, soups and special main courses
  • Saturday naturalist-led snowshoe hikes at Up Yonda Farm
    • 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28
    • Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, 5239 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing
    • Naturalist-led hikes with snowshoe rentals onsite, traversing roughly a mile per hike
    • $5, or $8 with refreshments and rentals
  • Live music at Adirondack Winery every Saturday in January
    • 2-6 p.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28
    • Adirondack Winery Queensbury Tasting Room, 395 Big Bay Road, Queensbury
    • Bands include Sean Pettis (Jan. 7), Margo Macero (Jan. 14), Greg Auffredou (Jan. 21) and Matthias Donnelly (Jan. 28)
    • Free admission
  • Bronte’s 15-Piece Latin Big Band at The Strand Theater
    • 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14
    • The Strand Theater, 210 Main St., Hudson Falls
    • Latin pop, salsa and merengue music
    • $20 tickets, call ahead at (518) 368-3130
  • Glacier Ice Bar opens at The Sagamore
    • Friday-Saturday, Jan. 20-21 and 27-28
    • The Sagamore Resort, 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing
    • 18,000-pound ice bar – sofas, chairs, tables, everything is ice
    • Bring money for food and drink
  • Gem Ice Bar
    • Friday-Sunday, Jan. 20-22 and 27-29
    • The Gem, 4983 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing
    • Two weekends of ice bar fun with drink specials; cut your own cubes for a special old fashioned
    • Bring money
  • Funky Ice Fest
    • Friday-Saturday, Jan. 20-21 and 27-28
    • Adirondack Pub & Brewery, 33 Canada St., Lake George
    • Adirondack Brewery’s ice bar, record party and more, with music, food and drink
    • Bring money
  • Lake George Winter Carnival Gala
    • 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27
    • The Brasserie at Bayside Resort, 2999 Route 9L, Lake George
    • The annual fundraising gala for the Lake George Winter Carnival – details TBA
  • Gurney Lane 5K Snowshoe Race
    • 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29
    • Gurney Lane Recreation Area, 118 Gurney Lane, Queensbury
    • Fourth annual snowshoe race at Gurney Lane Recreation Area, including a Fat Tire bike race
    • $25 participation fee
  • Ice Castles Lake George