Two big events dominate Clark Lake this weekend, and both have registrations tonight (Friday) at the Beach Bar. Run Clark Lake’s packet pick-up and preregistration takes place between 6 – 8 pm. Race day registration occurs Saturday between 7 – 8:15 am.
Raft-O-Rama registration at the Beach Bar is open today (Friday) between 7 – 9 pm. Raft-O-Rama will also be at the Shipwreck Party Store at Eagle Point Saturday 7 – 9 pm.
Run Clark Lake attracts nearly a thousand athletes and many spectators along the route. The 12K start is 8:30 am; and 5K, 8:35 am. The 5K walk begins a minute later at 8:36 am. The 3/4K Kids run starts at 9:50 am. And the awards ceremony will be held at 10 am. All Run Clark Lake events line up and begin on Ocean Beach Road in front of the Beach Bar. Here’s the route the events will take.
The 57th Raft-O-Rama parade starts at 10:30 am at the west end of the lake and travels in a counter-clockwise direction around the lake. This year’s theme is “TV Shows.”
Click here to view complete info on Raft-O-Rama, including “10 things (and more) you want to know.” That includes free transportation and other essential information for those who have decorated rafts. If you are in the parade, remember to wave when you go by the Eagle Point Marina gas dock. The photographer will be taking photos for the People’s Choice Award. Those photos will also be on this website, later on Sunday.
After the parade, the party continues at Eagle Point. The Clark Lake Lions will once again be grilling chicken dinners and local corn on the cob. There are fun activities for kids like air tattoos and photo booth. The music begins at 1 pm. When the band is on break, a DJ takes over. Voting for the People’s Choice prize commences runs between noon and 3 pm. The all-important awards ceremony starts at 3:45 pm.
While at the Point, you can stock up on Clark Lake goodies–Raft-O-Rama tees, calendars, shirts for men, women and youth, frisbees, wine glasses and more. Part of the “more” this year are Dam Strong tees. Proceeds support rebuilding the dam at Ocean Beach. Click here to learn why this is so important to the future of Clark Lake. Without the dam, the level of the lake would go down by two to four feet. Just imagine what that would do to the shoreline. The repairs are expensive, and raising the necessary funds will go beyond t-shirt sales. But buying and wearing this t-shirt will help generate funds, and promote the importance of this project. The Clark Lake Spirit Foundation, which is organizing and raising funds for the project, thanks the Raft-O-Rama Committee for this effort.
The Raft-O-Rama Committee meets throughout the year. There is an incredible amount of planning and work involved in putting together this awesome annual event. The good news is committee members don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Many have devoted their volunteer efforts to Raft-O-Rama for years, creating anew an engaging and memorable event. As the group will tell you, the key word is “fun!” Below is a photo taken last night at the most recent committee meeting, held at the Clark Lake Community Center. When you see someone wearing a staff t-shirt, consider saying “thanks!”
