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Has it been hot enough for you? Summer sure feels like it’s here and it’s almost time for the Lake St. John Flotilla. Come join us Saturday, July 6, at 2 p.m. for our 32nd year.

This year, we are proud to have Spokane Resort owners as our Grand Marshals! The owners, Tim and Bridgette Montpelier, Brenda Carter, and Buddy Goodson, have done a great job updating their property and have always been helpful in selling our merchandise and allowing us to register on their property.

For those of you who have a boat but need lake access, Spokane has a boat ramp you can use for a small fee. If you need to spend the night, they can help you with that, too, with cottages, cabins, and RV sites available. And don’t worry, The Lilly Pad is there to take care of your liquid refreshment needs.

If you have never attended the event, you are missing out on a lot of fun. LSJ Flotilla allows anything that floats to take part as long as you can maintain parade speed. Registration ($15 per boat) is from 10 a.m. to noon the day of the event at Spokane Resort.

The decorated boats line up the North end of the lake and the parade rolls at 2 p.m. The fleet is blessed at the Steckler pier as they parade around our beautiful lake and compete for cash prizes. Overall winner receives $1,000, second place $750 and third place is $500.

For a $15 entry fee, piers can also be decorated for cash prizes. Overall pier winner is $500, second place is $250. If entering a pier, decorating MUST be decorated by 1 p.m..

At dusk we have fireworks shot off from the Steckler pier (front side of the lake).

You can purchase T-Shirts now from Spokane Resort, Alligator Alley or online at rhino-graphics.com.

Youth are $20 and adult t-shirts or tanks are $30. All merchandise will also be available the day of the event.

We are also in need of sponsors. A GOLD sponsor is $400 and you receive 3 T-shirts, 3 Koozies and a Poster. SILVER is $300 and you receive 2 T-Shirts, 2 Koozies and a Poster. BRONZE is $200 and you receive 1 T-Shirt, 1 Koozie and a Poster. Sponsors are also included in social media activity, website publicity and are listed on our sponsorship banner. This event would not be able to happen without the support of our sponsors. Please consider being a sponsor and reach out to LSJFlotilla@gmail.com to become a sponsor today!

If you have any questions, you can email us at LSJFlotilla@gmail.com, call 601-431-5274, or visit our Facebook page, Lake St. John Flotilla.

We look forward to seeing you on the lake!

Deanna L. Kimbro is a Lake St. John Flotilla committee member.