Celebrating July 4 with Boat Parade Lake Garfield

Laporte will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its July 4 Boat Parade this year.

Participant boats should meet at the county beach on the north side of Lake Garfield at 4 p.m. Thursday. All are welcome!

The first boat parade, held July 4, 2004, consisted only of a few pontoons. It was put in place by two couples who had moved to the area and were trying to meet others on the lake. Those who participated gathered after a leisurely trip around the lake at the then Pine Beach Resort. The resort furnished coffee, iced tea and lemonade, while those on the boats brought treats to share. Friendships were made and continue to this day.

Since that first year, the parade has grown and now includes all sorts of boats and vessels. Many are lavishly decorated for Independence Day, and sometimes patriotic music is played. One trip around the lake is made, with horns and shouts sounding for neighbors on shore.

The resort is no longer open, but this year in celebration of the 20th anniversary, participants and others will gather for cake in the picnic shelter in midtown Laporte. The cake is contributed by the Garfield Lake Association.