The Otsego Lake Association (OLA) will sponsor its second annual "We Love Our Lake" decorated boat parade on Otsego Lake, on Saturday, July 4, 2015 beginning at 6:00 PM.  The parade will be held rain or shine.
 
Participating decorated boats will gather off-shore at Three Mile Point, (3 miles north of the village of Cooperstown on State Highway 80 Cooperstown), the start of the parade route.
 
"Anondontoides" the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station (BFS) research vessel, will be the leader of an in-line, slow speed promenade from Three Mile Point, heading south along the West shore of Lake Otsego to off-shore at Lakefront Park where the parade will finish, and prizes will be awarded by judges aboard the lead boat. 
 
There are no fees, rules or regulations (except travel slowly, stay in line and be courteous to boaters and especially small craft that may join in along the way).  Prizes donated by OLA will be given for a variety of categories:  Best Decorated Antique or Classic Boat; Best Decorated Man-Powered Boat; Best Original or Unusually Decorated Boat; Best Humorously Decorated Boat; Best Patriotic Theme Decorated Boat; Best Decorated, Joyful Party Boat.  Winners will be eligible for the "Float Your Boat" Best of Parade Grand Prize.
 
OLA past President Wayne Bunn advocated for the boat parade for many years and was last year’s Grand Marshall.  This year, the torch has been passed to Paul Lord, Captain of "Anondontoides" 2015 parade lead boat.  "Paul's robust style of 'announcer' for the parade adds to the excitement of the event!" says Scottie Baker, OLA board member and lucky passenger on the judging boat last year.
 
The "We Love Our Lake" July 4th Boat Parade is a fun filled, all inclusive, informal gathering of boaters on the water and viewers on shore, simply celebrating, coming together on and around our beloved Lake Otsego.  Members of the OLA Boat Parade Committee are looking forward to another exciting and fun time on July 4th.  We hope a happy and sizeable crowd of lake loving boaters and landlubbers alike will join the fun!

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