We like to engage in a little friendly competition on our lake each 4th of July with a boat parade. The decorated boats parade around the lake to the delight of residents young and old. The parade ends with judging at the sandbar. In addition to a bottle of bubbly, and a dollar store trophy, last years winners become next years judges. My family and I have participated in this fun filled fest the past three years. My family’s 2018 entry was “Happy Birthday America“. In 2019, our contender was “Stars & Stripes 4-4 Ever”. This past 2020 4th of July we entered “Red White and Brew BBQ”.
2018 was our first year participating in the North Lake 4th of July boat parade and we were not sure what to expect. We constructed a birthday cake using two kiddie pools and pool noodles purchased at the dollar store. We deck out the boat with the usual 4th of July decor and blasted the Beatles “Birthday” from the stereo. We were beat out by a boat decorated as the U.S.S. Constitution, but hey its not about winning!
In 2019 we upped our game with “Stars and Stripes 4-4 Ever”. This boat had us dancing the parade away as stars waiting to be sown onto the American flag by our own Betsy Ross. There is a funny family story behind the phrase “4-4 Ever” which involves a stoner and a microwave cook timer, but I digress.
Unfortunately, we were beat out by a boat decorated as an eagles nest with eaglets. AGAIN, its really NOT about winning.
This year, 2020, we rejected several Covid-19 theme ideas which included: giant toilet paper rolls, covering the boat in a giant mask and/or constructing a giant bleach syringe. Opting instead to go all in with a whimsical theme, “Red White and Brew BBQ”. The boat was covered in red gingham to act as our picnic table where we danced as a couple of beers and picnic food amongst a chef barbecuing and a few giant balloon ants. (It may or many not be a coincidence that the beers look like Corona.) The food items include: a hot dog, ketchup, mustard, watermelon, strawberry, a s’more, and a bomb pop.
This was the one! We finally–after three attempts, won the North Lake, 4th of July, boat parade!! I know I said its not about winning, but I LIED. Now we proudly display our major award on our fireplace mantel and will become the 2021 judges! (We also occasionally sing “We are the Champions–of the Lake”.) So happy!!
