The annual Lake Boon Water Carnival will take place on Labor Day Weekend, Friday, September 3 through Monday, September 6. Get your boat parade ideas together and contribute to this memorable event!
This year we celebrate the Lake Boon Association’s centennial of incorporation in 1921! Especially for the centennial celebration will be the festive music of an antique carousel organ playing mid-day on Saturday at the panoramic Pine Bluffs Town Beach lookout. In addition, A History of Lake Boon, the newly released comprehensive book by Prof. Richard Gelpke, will be available for purchase.
Friday night 9/3, 7:30-10:30 p.m. – Sunset, Music Boat & Lighting of the Lake
Enjoy the sunset just before 7 p.m. and watch the “Lighting of the Lake” as we turn on decorative lights and light luminaries along the shoreline. Please use small holiday lights or luminaries rather than bright flood lights.
The music boat, featuring “Hard Knox” playing familiar rock, blues, and folk songs from the 60s through 90s will begin in the second (south) basin at 7:30 p.m., going around counter-clockwise and then into the first (north) basin about 9:15 p.m. going counterclockwise and passing the Town Beach about 9:30 p.m. Sit by the shore or go out in a boat, canoe or kayak (all must have lights) as the music boat passes by. In case of bad weather the music boat may be cancelled or postponed to Saturday night. Call 978-562-2203 after 6 p.m. for a recorded message.
Saturday 9/4, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Water Carnival Beach Day
Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area
10:30 a.m.: Field races, planned to encourage social distancing between children
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch accompanied by carousel organ music
12:30 p.m.: Children’s entertainment
2:00 p.m.: Swimming & canoe races
Ribbons will be awarded for many of the races. Bring a picnic or purchase a grilled lunch prepared by the Lake Boon Association.
The just-released, comprehensive A History of Lake Boon by Prof. Richard Gelpke will be on sale along with a variety of LBA T-shirts and bags.
The Diamond Jubilee Carousel Organ was built in the 1890s in Paris and will be playing in celebration of the Lake Boon Association’s centennial year Sept 4th mid-day at Stow Pine Bluffs Town Beach.
Sunday 9/5, 10 a.m. – noon: History Boat Tour
Join Prof. Richard Gelpke, long time resident of the lake, historian and tour guide extraordinaire for a pontoon boat tour around the lake. Participants must be fully vaccinated and wear facemasks throughout the tour as history appeals to those of us at higher risk. Seating is limited and reservations must be made at grayscale@earthlink.net. A History of Lake Boon will be available for purchase for $20 during the tour.
Sunday 9/5, 2:15 – 4:00 p.m.: Annual Decorated Boat Parade
The parade begins at the First Basin Narrows Buoy with registration on the water before 2:15 p.m., and continues counter-clockwise around the first (north) basin and then to the second (south) basin. The boat parade can be viewed from the Stow Town Beach about 2:30 p.m. or the Barton Road dam about 3:00 p.m. We want to thank supporters including Main Street Pizza, Honey Pot Hill Orchard, Stow House of Pizza, Brothers Pizza, CJ’s of Hudson and Sudbury and the Lake Boone Ice Company.
Monday 9/6, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Sailing Regatta
During Labor Day quiet hours and weather permitting, join other sailors for informal cruising and ad hoc racing in the first basin beginning at the Pine Point buoy. Slow power boaters and landlubbers at the Town Beach are welcome to observe the joys and challenges of sailing.
The Diamond Jubilee Carousel Organ was built in the 1890s in Paris and will be playing in celebration of the Lake Boon Association’s centennial year Sept 4th mid-day at Stow Pine Bluffs Town Beach.
Is the boat parade still happening on Sunday?
Yes!