The 7th Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival will take place this weekend, September 24th and 25th, in Indian Lake. Moose-themed family fun activities will be the main attraction during the weekend.

Visitors to Indian Lake can enjoy programs, games, contests, exhibitions – all in the name of the elusive and majestic moose. The half-ton mammal has made a come-back in the Adirondacks, and one may even spot a moose during the Festival weekend. The Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival (GAMF) is sponsored by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and a host of regional and local business sponsors.

Major festival activities will feature several family fun Adirondack wilderness experiences. These activities will include a Moose River Plains self-guided tour, guided hikes to Clear Pond, 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, beer and wine sampling tent and the Great Adirondack Fly Casting Classic.

Other Festival activities include; the Traditions of Backcountry Brook Trout in the Adirondacks, Current Adirondack Moose Research presentation, Indian Lake Museum Open House, an Old Fashion Turkey Shoot, Count the Moose Scat Contest and Moosterpiece 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 6th annual Moose Calling Contest. Check out the Contest and witness the fun, and sometimes bizarre and authentic, hooting and hollering moose calls from both adult and children contestants. Ed Kanze, Naturalist and Outdoor Guide will be the contest Master of Ceremony and one of the official judges. 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 will test fly-casting speed, accuracy and distance. Joe Hackett, Licensed Guide and owner of Tahawus Ltd. will be the event coordinator.

Added to the 2016 list of activities will be Here Moose, There Moose, Everybody Wants Mousse Tasting, Moose Scavenger Hunt, Chain Saw Carving Demonstrations, Hamilton County Bicentennial Exhibit and a Hand Fly Tying Demonstration, Techniques and Exhibit. A full schedule of GAMF activities may be found on Facebook at “Great Adirondack Moose Festival”.

Most festival activities are free and do not require advance registration.

For more information, click here or 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.

Photos of Moose courtesy Carolyn Belknap and Adam Whitney.