Now is an interesting time at Clark Lake. At the Beach Bar you see people talking but in hushed tones and their hands obstructing view of their words. As you go around the lake you see neighbors conferring quietly. When you approach the conversation suddenly changes. What’s going on? The secrets are about their entry for Raft-O-Rama. This, after all, is a competition for Best Overall Adult (18 and over) & Youth (17 and under), Most Enthusiastic, Most Original, Funniest, Closest to Theme, Most Colorful, Best Special Effects, Furthest from Theme, and Rookie Award. At tonight’s R-O-R committee meeting, Best Costume returned as a category. Entries will also be separated if there is more than one vessel involved. You can vote for the People’s Choice award at Eagle Point, the site of the Lions Club chicken and corn roast. And of course, the Raft-O-Rama sails on Sunday, August 2.
Lots of work falls to the Raft-O-Rama committee. L to R bottom row: Katie Walczak, Sherri Cameron, Trisha Boyers, Dotty Karkheck, Kristy Hull. Middle row: John Karkheck, Tucker Boyers, Walter Reed, Joe Collins, Beckey Ligibel. Top row: Ron & Christy Runyan, Dan Hockenberry
Competing rafts assemble at the head in the area of the lake boat launch at 10 am and the parade begins at 10:30 am. The rafts circle the entire lake, going counter-clockwise.
Be sure to get your raffle ticket for these great prizes
Cardboard is a primary building block to decorate rafts. And it’s free at the Boyers, 474 South Woodland. The theme is Festivals, and the committee hopes you give your ideas free reign and put all your ingenuity and creativity on display.
Scroll down for complete Raft-O-Rama info.
The Lions Club chicken and corn roast starts at noon at Eagle Point (also where you vote on the People’s Choice Award). Last year, the Lions broiled no less than 1,000 chickens and 800 ears of corn–and sold all of it! They promise more of it this year.
At Eagle Point and at Doyles on Hyde Road, you can purchase items to remember the day by–hats, towels, shirts, & koozies. Eagle Point is the site of the awards ceremony and other fun activities like face painting and snacks like snow-cones and hot pretzels.
The weekend of the Raft-O-Rama is big. It starts with fireworks Friday night (July 31), continues with Run Clark Lake on Saturday (August 1), and Raft-O-Rama on Sunday (August 2).
Friday night fireworks feature a 45 minute display with John Menard in command. You may recall that the Menard family has been credited with some of Clark Lake’s most impressive Independence Day fireworks displays. The Raft-O-Rama Friday night fireworks will be launched on the south side of the east end of the lake (Kennedy’s). You can best view the display on the water.
As this is an extensive presentation, the Raft-O-Rama is looking for your help through donations. You can donate by credit card on this website (tax-free) or in one of the canisters at Doyle’s, Mugsy’s or SaveTime.
More on Raft-O-Rama below.
