LAKEPORT >> It was a modest crowd at Xabatin/Library Parks, but their enthusiasm was ramped up for the 4th of July festivities as dusk descended on Clear Lake, residents gathered at Lake front to watch the revival of the Boat Parade, formerly a very popular attraction of the mid and late 1990s.
“The morning of the 4th I went down to Library Park and passed around these little hand bills and people were so excited to see it (Boat Parade) come back,”” said Marie Schrader, social media representative of Lakeport Tire and Auto (Steve Short, president) and organizer. “The boats come by the docks at the Skylark Shores, so, I can take pictures (then proceed by lake front to Xabatin and Library Park). I’ll put it up online at Lakeport Tire & Auto’s Facebook Page so, people can vote for their favorite entry in the parade.”
Winning entry receives $100. Anybody viewing the parade can vote for the boat they like best. There were 13 entries including the Lakeport Fire Department’s jet ski boat. Other entrants included: Jarden Jenssen, piloting a runabout, Lauren Berlinn in a pontoon boat (we have a large family), Ali Bennett in his watercraft, Steve Short in a wakeboard/ski boat, Merilee Saldivar in a jet boat, Albert Armanini in his boat, Ron Kidwell and Aime Graves in their 17-foot pleasure boat, Stan Snow in a 26-foot sailboat, Mike Lundwall in a sail boat, Gina Mayhood in a peddle pontoon boat and Travis Quiet in a 2025 Centurion Nv233.
“I said to Steve Short, ‘we haven’t had this boat parade for 25 years, we need to bring it back as everybody asks me, is there a boat parade for the 4th of July, because people loved it,'” Schrader said. At the time it was run by the Chamber of Commerce. She went to the Chamber to ask why the boat parade didn’t exist anymore and was told that nobody wanted to run it. “So, I said, I’ll organize it.” Schrader informed Steve Short and he agreed to collaborate.
When asked by the paraded entrants what theme to use in order to enhance their boats, Schrader informed them to deck out their boats in red, white and blue. “This brings out the community and bonds them together,” she said. “And the boat decoration gives them something more to celebrate.”
Along with the patriotically festooned boats, organizers also recruited a local favorite, the LC Diamonds, performing their take on the classic rock ‘n roll hits of the 60s to 90s canon, noted their lead guitarist and vocalist, Shaun Hornby, who has already performed at the Skylark Shores on several occasions. “We love Lake County and play predominantly in the county (monthly at the Saw Shop, in Kelseyville). “We we’re offered another gig for the 4th of July, but we wanted to be in Lakeport for the holiday … you can’t beat the view.”
Kicking back in a deck chair waiting patiently for the music to begin and the boat regatta to arrive was. Jeff Hendricks, resident of Pacifica. “I’ve been coming up here for 16 years,” he said. “It’s really one of the best shows ever. As far as I’m concerned, this show blows away the Bay Area. Once past dark, all you’ll see looking out Xabatin Park are lit up boats. There must be three or four hundred of them hovering around the barge, (loaded with the fireworks). The boats love to ride underneath the fireworks, it’s just awesome- all the casinos go nonstop the night before.”
Marie Schrader focuses her work on creating social media content for Lakeport Tire & Auto. “Steve is very community minded- and he has me posting things about the community on his company’s Facebook page- because Steve is all about making sure that Lake County thrives.”
