06/25/2026
We are excited to announce that we are having a 4th of July parade!
Price: Free for viewing, but donations towards the fireworks and veterans is greatly appreciated.
Head boat will the the decorated blue boat rental pontoon (picture will be posted prior to the event so you can find us).
Start and End: At 12:15 we will announce the start of the parade. It is important to be assembled beforehand. Following the countdown, all boats flicker their lights and sound their horns, making a joyful noise letting spectators know we are coming. At the end the head boat will stop and let the others gather round. As soon as the last boat is there we will blow our horn to announce the end. We will then pick our winners and announce it.
Spacing: There should be about 50-100 feet between each boat and try to safely keep the flow going. The parade will move at a slow speed to maintain steerage. Please do not stop to talk to friends, discharge or pick up passengers as this will cause confusion.
Route: We will tentatively go from the dam to north of the bridge, but this could change. Please check back for exact location.
Viewing: shoreline and other boats. If you are viewing from the park, get there early enough for good parking and plan for traffic.
Boat decorations and entertainment: Equip your crew with bells, noisemakers, horns, PG 13 music. Interact and respond to the crowds. Boats full of enthusiastic people with everyone wearing a costume wow a crowd. Remember both sides of the boat will be seen. Make things BIG. Tiny decorations will be hard to see.
Rules:
Drive safely.
Proper language and conduct will be used throughout the parade. Please no profanities.
Lewd conduct will not be tolerated and misconduct will result in being asked to leave the parade.
Be alert at the helm and maintain an adequate distance between you and the boat ahead.
Leave partying and drinking alone until you are finished with the parade.
Make sure your decorations do not impede your ability to see where you are going.
Keep any spotlights out of the captain’s eyes.
Decorations must be firmly attached. Please do not litter.
Have a sufficient number of fire extinguishers in proper working order in case of a fire.
No littering, fireworks, or other objects should be thrown from your boat.
Participants are required to comply with all boating laws and regulations and are involved at their own risk.
Weather
The parade will go on unless there is severe weather. Check the boat rental and parade page for updates.
Judging
Judges will be on the head veteran boat and employees of Raccoon Lake Boat Rental. We will have a photographer driving alongside and taking pictures. We will post the winners up on the parade and boat rental pages if we are unable to inform them at the end. If they can’t make it to the parade they can swing by our dock to be judged by employees that day for a separate (smaller) prize.
Categories judged:
Grand prize for most patriotic (America 250th)
Best crowd engagement
Judges favorite
Most original
Pictures will be posted on the Boat Parade page and Raccoon Lake Boat Rental social media pages.
