Winter Fest was held on January 26th, 2019 at Gilbert Lake State Park, generously sponsored by Five Star Subaru of Oneonta. Gilbert Lake is one of New York State’s beautiful State Parks. Many people forget about Gilbert Lake and some of the other parks over the winter, but they are a great place to get outside and spend time meeting people and enjoying some fresh, yet crisp air!
At Winter Fest this year, you could snowshoe and cross country ski (free rentals were available) around some of the park trails. You could go along on a guided hike/ski, or go on your own.
A hot tenting demonstration was set up outside Briggs Pavilion. If you have ever thought about winter camping but are not sure about how to stay warm, this is one option. A specially designed tent was set up with a wood stove inside. The stove was from a company called Seek Outside. Check these guys out if you are curious.
Inside the pavilion, there were tables with local outdoor enthusiasts such as the Adirondack Tourism Council, Otsego Outdoors, and the Otsego County Conservation Association. There were craft activities for the kids, informational presentations on outdoor survival, and of course two warm fireplaces for thawing out after enjoying outdoor activities.
I’m looking forward to next year’s Winter Fest. But you don’t have to wait for Winter Fest to enjoy snowshoeing or other outdoor winter activities at Gilbert Lake. They are there all year. Go check it out!
Warm Fireplace on a Cold Day Briggs Pavilion Gilbert Lake 5 Star Subaru Cabin Fever Winter Fest Gilbert Lake State Park 5 Star Subaru Cabin Fever Winter Fest Winter Fest at Gilbert Lake State Park Hot Tenting Demo Winter Fest at Gilbert Lake State Park Winter Fest at Gilbert Lake State Park Winter Fest at Gilbert Lake State Park