Photo credit: Paul Donnelly.

Notes: Plan to float your boat – weather permitting – in the Otsego Lake Association’s Annual “We Love Our Lake” Decorated Boat Parade to be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, July 6th 2024.  This year’s theme will be “Let’s Celebrate Scottie Baker”.  Scottie Baker, who passed away in April 2024, was a long-time, dedicated member of the OLA Board of Directors, editor of the award winning OLA Journal (formerly called Newsletter), and coordinator and judge for the boat parade. 
The parade will form off Three Mile Point, then proceed slowly along the westerly side of the lake, and end at Lakefront Park in Cooperstown.  The lead boat, the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station barge, will be marked with OLA banners and decorated.  There will be judging of the boats and awarding of 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place awards plus bags of candy will be given out to all boaters.  Boaters are requested to assemble no later than 2:45 PM so the judges can record the name of the boat owner, note the decoration or theme, and photograph the boat.  
All boats, large and small, are welcome – including antique or classic, human powered, wind powered, electric powered, jet powered, outboard powered, inboard/outboard powered and, of course, “flying boats” like the one we had in 2023.  We encourage you to decorate your boat using the theme “Let’s Celebrate Scottie Baker” but you may decorate your boat anyway you wish.  It can be unusually decorated, humorously decorated, patriotic theme decorated, joyful/party theme decorated, sports theme decorated, military theme decorated, etc.  If you prefer, you do not even need to decorate your boat - just join in the parade and view the other boats.  You can even join the parade at anytime or anywhere along the route, especially for non-motorized boaters who might not want to travel the full route.  If you are unable to float your boat, you can watch from shore at various points along the parade route including Three Mile Point, Brookwood Point, Fenimore Art Museum, Country Club (for members only), Otesaga Hotel, and Lakefront Park. 
There are no fees, registration forms, rules, or regulations except travel slowly, stay in line, and be courteous to other boaters.  Last year, we had one of our largest boat parades as between 35 and 45 boats participated in the parade plus many more just observing.  The parade is meant to be a fun-filled, family event for all boaters to celebrate our love for Otsego Lake.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Wayne Bunn, Boat Parade Chairman, at bunnwayne@gmail.com or (518) 542-6630.  You can also view photographs of past years’ boat parades at Annual Boat Parade Pictures.  We look forward to seeing you on July 6th!

Please stay around for a few minutes at the end of the parade while the judges announce and give out the prizes.  All boats, large and small, are welcome - including antique or classic, human powered, wind powered, electric powered, jet powered, outboard powered, inboard/outboard powered and, of course, flying boats.  It can be unusually decorated, humorously decorated, patriotic theme decorated, joyful/party theme decorated, sports theme decorated, military theme decorated, etc.  If you prefer, you do not even need to decorate your boat - just join in the parade and view the other boats up close.  You can even join the parade at any time or anywhere along the route, especially for non-motorized boaters who might not want to travel the full route.  If you are unable to enter your boat in the parade, you can watch from shore at various points along the parade route including Three Mile Point, Brookwood Point, the Country Club (members only), the Otesaga Hotel, and Lakefront Park.  There are no fees, registration forms, rules, or regulations except travel slowly, stay in line, and be courteous to other boaters.  In the past, we have had over 50 boats participate in the parade.  The parade is meant to be a fun-filled, family event for all boaters to celebrate our love for Otsego Lake. 

Notes: Time to clean up our shoreline. This is specifically for items found in/on the lake shore such as old tires, pieces of old docks, old pipes etc. Any lake debris you find, put at the end of your dock with a sign GARBAGE and we will pick it up and dispose of it FREE of charge. NO construction materials, NO household garbage. No dock, no worries bring your debris to 3 Mile Pt. for disposal only on date of cleanup.

Lake Clean-Up Photos

River Clean-Up Photos

The Springfield 4th of July Parade is back!

Free parking for the parade will be available at the Springfield Community Center.

Springfield... the place to be on the 4th of July!

Any questions?  contact Springfield.July4@gmail.com or visit them on Facebook. 

The Hyde Hall and Glimmerglass State Park Block Party. The event marks the start of our area’s summer season and offers opportunities for the whole family from 10 AM – 3 PM. Over twenty local organizations and growing will participate with activities, animals, crafts, free programs, nature walks, and music around Hyde Hall’s campus and around Glimmerglass State Park.

Glimmerglass State Park, in partnership with Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship (FORCES), will offer programs, leave no trace, fishing, camp safety, and provide guided hikes throughout the day. 

Notes:

Founded in 2006, The Earth Festival is a gathering of Otsego County’s environmental community for a day-long celebration that features exhibits, workshops, and products with an environmental theme. Last year’s event featured more than 30 exhibitors and vendors.

Earth Festival is an environmentally focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, workshops, vendors, food and entertainment, all with a fun, earth-friendly twist. OLA will be present to answer your questions. Stop by browse our handouts & posters. Fill out a membership form. Check out our stylish apparel.

In 2011, OCCA Board Member Tier French entertained and educated Earth Festival visitors as the ChicoBag™ Bag Monster®. The costume was used to illustrate the impact of single-use plastic bags.

Notes: Come join the Lake and Valley Garden Club, BOCES and OLA for a fun few hours maintaining our most used and well-known buffer strip.

Main Topic: Watershed Stewardship: Boat Inspections & Invasive Species Identification

Notes: FREE TRAINING. Learn how to become a steward for your lake. Spend a day with BFS staff learning about aquatic invasive species, how to prevent their spread & boat inspection procedures. Contact Paul.Lord@oneonta.edu for more information. Photo credit: Meredith Taylor

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