Boat Parade Goes On Despite Rain

The 10th annual Jackson Lake Fourth of July Boat Parade and contest took place Monday at Martin’s Marina.

There were nine entries in the pontoon boat division, and the first place winners were Bart and Diana Shuman, lake residents for 35 years. The theme of their boat was “American Pride” and they claimed the first place prize of $700.

Coming in second was the Bear Creek Marina Boat with a theme of “Boogie Nights” that collected $500 in prize money. Coming in third and picking up a prize of $300 was the boat of Bryan Bowman with the theme of a local real estate firm.
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Five other pontoon boats received an honorable mention and each collected a prize of $160.

First place winner in the Ski or Fishing Boat Division was Geleta Fenton with a theme of “American Freedom,” who collected a $500 prize.

Heavy rains pelted the lake from around 4 p.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m., casting some doubt on being able to conduct the event, however, once the weather cleared the lake became a “sea of boats.”
The “land crowd” at the marina was slower to arrive than last year, but arrive they did to watch the lights of the boat parade at dusk.

This crowd may have been slightly less than last year, due to the weather, and later to arrive, but a crowd of approximately 200 celebrated the event to the sounds of patriotic music while wearing hats and shirts representing Old Glory, and collecting T-shirts jettisoned from the boats into the crowd.

Event Coordinator Jan Schubach expressed her pleasure in the decorations of all the boats this year for their keeping to the patriotic theme of the event.

Ms. Schubach was also pleased with the tremendous response to the event on the lake, as well as on land. She also expressed her appreciation to the sponsors who make the event possible.