The 6th Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival, New York State’s first ever moose-themed fete,will be held in Indian Lake, N.Y., September 26 and 27, 2015.

Moose-themed programs, games, contests, and exhibitions will be the main attraction during the weekend. The half-ton mammal has made a come-back in the Adirondacks, and several are known to be living in the Indian Lake area. 

This year, the Moose Festival will feature several family fun Adirondack wilderness experiences. These activities will include a Moose River Plains self- guided tour, guided hikes to Castle Rock, Ok Slip Falls, Rock Dam and Watch Hill, Fall Foliage White Water Rafting, Moose Caption Contest, shopping for arts and crafts under the Big Moose Tent and at local retailers, free samples of moose chili, (courtesy of the Indian Lake & Blue Mountain Lake Fish and Game Club), NYS beer and wine tasting and the Great Adirondack Fly Casting Classic.

Other Festival activities include; the Utica Zoo Mobile, Traditions of Backcountry Brook Trout in the Adirondacks and Current Adirondack Moose Research presentation, Indian Lake Museum Open House, Moosetastic History at the Adirondack Museum, an Old Fashion Turkey Shoot, Count the Moose Scat Contest and Moosterpiece fun games and activities for children and much more, all with a moose theme. The festival mascot, Bruce the Moose, will be visiting different festival activities throughout the weekend.

Back by popular demand will be the fifth annual Moose Calling Contest. Check out the contest to witness the fun, sometimes bizarre, sometimes authentic, hooting and hollering moose calls from adult and children contestants. Naturalist and outdoor guide Ed Kanze will be the contest Master of Ceremony and an official judge. The contest will be limited to two categories, adult and children, and will be held at the Indian Lake Theater.

The Great Adirondack Fly-Casting Classic, will be held on Adirondack Lake and will focus on fly-casting skills with divisions for children and adults. This competition tests fly-casting speed, accuracy and distance.  Joe Hackett, a licensed Adirondack Guide and owner of Tahawus Ltd. is the event coordinator.

The festival is also held during the peak fall foliage season in the Central Adirondacks. Most festival activities are free and do not require advance registration.

The Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival is sponsored by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and a host of regional and local business sponsors.

For more information, please visit www.indian-lake.com call (518) 648-5636 or (518) 648-5112. Visitors are encouraged to pick up a copy of the Festival Program at the Chamber of Commerce and at several businesses around town during the event. Also, a full schedule of Moose Festival events can also be found on Facebook at “Great Adirondack Moose Festival.”

Photos provided.