The 10th annual Tupper Lake BrewSki on Saturday brought nearly 2,000 people from all around the United States out onto the trails of the James C. Frenette Recreational Trails near the Tupper Lake Golf Club to sample beers from 20 brewers, ski the 1.5-mile trails and catch up with friends.

This year’s event was nicknamed “The Big LeBrewski” — in reference to the iconic 1998 “The Big Lebowski” film, and several people dressed as “The Dude.”

Town Recreation Director Laura LaBarge said BrewSki is one of her favorite events because people just come to have fun. No one even complained about the lines at the breweries, which stretched to 30 to 40 people at some point.

“It’s incredible. Hard to explain. It’s bringing everybody from downstate up here,” Cody Robinson-Bullock from the Capital Region said. “I’d say it’s one of the most interesting outdoor recreational things to do for a town and community.”

Deirdre Ogorzalek, right, knitted 13 custom alpaca BrewSki hats for her whole group at the Tupper Lake BrewSki on Saturday. “BrewSki. It’s the best weekend of the winter,” Ogorzalek said. “She never knitted a stitch before COVID,” her husband Chris, center right, said. During the pandemic Dierdre learned the craft on her grandmother’s knitting kit. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

This was his first year at the event, along with Amber Bleau-Green.

“It brings people together,” Bleau-Green said.

This year, the event brought in 20 brewers. The Saratoga Beer Summit was on the same day, so they extended their reach, bringing in new brewers from Western New York.

People traveled from as far as Hawaii for the event, which sold out of its 1,350 tickets the night before. A number of people arrived with the hopes of buying tickets day-of, which LaBarge said is always a gamble.

“The cool thing about the BrewSki crowd is they’re all such courteous human beings,” she said.

Bauer Callahan and Karter Kenniston look on as Phil Lindsay putts during the Tupper Lake Lions Club Fire and Ice Golf Tournament on Tuesday. Their team, “Five for Fighting,” consisted of Tupper Lake High School seniors who play on the schools’ hockey and golf teams. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

If attendees had extra tickets, they turned them in to the organizers to give away, saving everyone who tried to get same-day tickets from entering a world of pain.

LaBarge said the event likely raised more than $50,000. The town uses this to pay the brewers for their product and host future events.

LaBarge was happy to see a lot of families at the event.

“We typically don’t advertise it as a family-friendly event, just because of the alcohol aspect,” she said. “But I saw more people bringing families and designated drivers. It’s becoming more socially acceptable to not drink and still have fun.”

Along with the trails and the beer, attendees praised the weather conditions — deep snow, cold temperature and even some sunshine.

Amber Bleau-Green and Cody Robinson-Bullock from the Capital Region enjoy at the Tupper Lake BrewSki on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

William Burns, a wilderness guide from Cazenovia took advantage of the weather, skiing the trails or his 41st birthday without a shirt on.

“Being cold is just a state of mind,” Burns said. “There’s a big difference between being actually cold and feeling cold. … It is sunny and nice. It’s like 25 (degrees). It’s not a cold day.”

Other people, who were out of their element, bundled up. As The Dude said: “That’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

During the Lions Club’s annual Fire and Ice Golf Tournament at the golf course the Churcos placed first, according to Lions Club President Stu Nichols. There were five teams of three golfers each. Dustin, Jared and Aiden Churco shot a 15 over five holes, knocking tennis balls onto the hard-packed snow on the fairways, while trying to keep them out of the knee-deep fluff on the sides. Nichols said the Lions Club raised around $3,500 between the golf tournament, raffle and burger trailer.

Nichols, who sported a Pendleton sweater and a fake mustache like The Dude, caught up with a whole group of Dudes from Massena, called the “The Massena Clam Catchers” and traveled the event with them.

Caitlin Nichols from Hammondsport rides a dinosaur around the Tupper Lake BrewSki on Saturday. Nichols had come to a BrewSki a couple years ago for friend’s bachelor and bachelorette party and came back again this year. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Eddie West on team “Record Breakers” aims to sink a putt at the Tupper Lake Lions Club Fire and Ice Golf Tournament. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

William Burns and Heather Link from Cazenovia take in the Tupper Lake BrewSki on Saturday. Burns, who was celebrating his 41st birthday, decided to do the event without a shirt on. “Being cold is just a state of mind,” he said. “There’s a big difference between being actually cold and feeling cold.” Burns is a licensed wilderness guide. “It is sunny and nice. It’s like 25. It’s not a cold day.” (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Kim Pickering, Paula Smith and Marvin Pickering from Piercefield hold up glasses of Aunt Rosemary’s Stout from Garland City Beer Works. GCBW pourer Blaine Gardner said the stout was canned that very morning and is named after one of the brewery owner’s aunts, whose last name is Stout. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)