By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

LONG LAKE - Temperatures in the single digits and a wind chill well below zero didn’t prevent a large crowd from showing up and enjoying Long Lake’s annual Winter Carnival Saturday, Jan. 14, sponsored by Moonlighters Snowmobile Club and the Town of Long Lake.

According to Moonlighters President Jim Piraino, the carnival is in its eighth year and was started after the Long Lake 100-Miler snowmobile races were dropped.

All the carnival food and activities are free, even though some have cash prizes, thanks to the Moonlighters, the town and Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

The festivities began with the coronation of Richard and Hillary Dechene as the carnival’s king and queen. They were immediately escorted up Mt. Sabattis in a parade of snowmobiles, then down to the Geiger Arena.

Next on the list were the cardboard box sled races down the ski hill.

Relief from the cold was provided by a bonfire of discarded Christmas trees, plus free hot food and beverages served by the fire department inside the cozy Geiger Arena building.

The sledding hill and ice rink were open throughout the day when not being used for activities such as the half court basketball shot (with snowballs), the ladies frying pan toss, the kids’ balloon chase, the goalie’s day off puck shot and a broomball tournament.

Red noses, red cheeks and smiles were prevalent throughout the day. Then it was time for oohs and aahs when dark arrived and the festival concluded with fireworks.

The carnival is always the Saturday of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.