SYRACUSE – Elvis, a floating car and a big audience turned up for the 50th Wawasee Flotilla Sunday.
About 40 decorated and antique boats circled the lake, celebrating the anniversary with a classic rock look and sound. In the lead boat were 16 former commodores stretching back to the founding of the flotilla.
Decorated boats included a floating luau and dog house, and a giant sign proclaiming that Elvis still lives. One man even piloted a red convertible Amphicar, a European import from 1961.
A crowd of new and old visitors watched the procession from nearby boats, or shore-side parks and docks decorated for the occasion. The best-decorated pier received an award along with the best boat.
Awards were given “for the best family or neighborhood, for making noise - whatever we feel is the most spirited on the lake,” organizer Holly Tuttle remarked.
Fran and Doug Bowser, North Webster, were watching from a park near the starting line. They’ve only missed a few flotillas over the years and wanted to make a point not to miss this one.
“I think it’s a neat thing to do for people who live around the lake and people that don’t, to try to get together and share the lake with people and each other,” Fran Bowser said.
“It’s something different, not everybody has it,” Doug Bowser added. “This is the biggest lake, that’s the reason they have the best parade.”
Nearby, Amy Board, Goshen, was watching for the first time with young children Christopher and Katherine.
“I thought it would be a good activity to take a break from being on the water on my own boat. It sounded like fun,” Board said, before moving further along the shore to catch up with the flotilla for a better view.
The flotilla was founded in 1961 to honor three fathers who drowned in Wawasee, according to Larry Griffith, a founding committeeman who rode Sunday as a past commodore. It was originally held on Father’s Day and featured strictly pontoon boats, but has grown to include a variety of vessels.
“I always see lots and lots of people sitting out on their back docks watching the parade. So many people, it’s really amazing,” Griffith said.
