Lake Oconee residents celebrated Independence Day by taking to the water for the seventh annual Lake Oconee Boat Parade. This event brought together families, friends, and plenty of patriotic spirit.
The parade began at 2 p.m., with participants decorating their boats for prizes and dressing in festive red, white, and blue attire.
Held each year in the Morgan County portion of Lake Oconee, the parade begins near the end of Appalachee Woods Trail in the Oconee Shores community before making its way toward the Apalachee River. Two years ago, organizers changed the route to a loop format to improve viewing opportunities for spectators around the lake.
Morgan County resident Lanier Massey said she and her family have participated in the parade since it began seven years ago. During the past two years, she has taken on a larger role in organizing the event.
"For the first four years, we were just big participants, and then the original guy who was heading it all up was out of the country last year," Massey said. "They asked if I would coordinate it because they knew I would be participating. I helped make sure it didn't skip a year. This year, I helped coordinate it again and was able to secure the sponsors."
This year's sponsors — Blue Springs Marina, Sinclair PowerSports, and Ansley Real Estate — donated prizes for categories including Most Patriotic, Most Creative, and Most Spirited.
"Last year was the first time we did the three categories, and so I did that again this year to give more people an opportunity to change things up," Massey said. "It's fun because you get to see everyone's creativity. Every year, people become more creative, and the competition gets stronger."
The Massey family earned the Most Patriotic award this year, while Dale and Renee Stone were named Most Spirited. Boat No. 11 claimed the Most Creative award with a Margaritaville-themed display.
"It's grown every year for sure, and it's more than just everybody hanging a couple of flags on the side," Massey said. "There are inflatables, and someone even built a big wooden eagle specifically for their boat to make the whole thing look like an eagle."
Despite a slightly smaller turnout than last year because some regular participants were out of town, Massey said she was encouraged by the community's continued enthusiasm and expects the parade to keep growing.
"My favorite part is getting the whole family excited," Massey said. "My 5-year-old has been part of it since he was a baby, and now he wants to dress up. This year, he went as a hot dog. Seeing the kids come up with their own ideas and getting everyone involved has been really fun because at first it was mainly me getting excited and decorating, and now it's everybody."