Parade of Boats Will Take to Lake Pocotopaug

The Friends of Lake Pocotopaug will host its annual Captain Grizzy Boat Parade on Saturday in East Hampton.

The boat parade, now in its eighth year, features a procession of boats decked out in festive decorations that motor around the perimeter of the 500-acre lake.

Also called the Dennis Griswold Showboat Parade, the event is billed by some as the lake’s biggest summer event.  

The parade begins at 2 p.m. across from Angelico’s Lake House at 81 N. Main St. The boats, however, will assemble earlier and launch at Sears Park. First prize is $500, second prize is $250. There also will be four "Good Showing" prizes ($100 Carmen Anthony's Gift Certificates) and a prize will be awarded in the chldren's category.

This year there will be a shuttle from the high school to Sears Park on the day of the event.

There will be a series of events at the park before the boats launch and at the restaurant, including entertainment and a raffle drawing with a $10,000 first prize. Second prize is $1,500 and third prize is a $1,000 gift certificate to Shop and Shop. The drawing will be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Angelico’s Lake House.

Tickets, which are $20 each, are available from any FLP member, or at Angelico’s Lake House, Governor’s Tavern, Paul and Sandy’s Too and Loco Perro. Tickets will be sold at Angelico's until the time of the drawing

Admission is free. Rain date is Sunday. The decision will be made early Saturday morning if the parade has to be postponed. Those with boats can call The Happiest Paddler at 860-267-1764 for information Saturday morning.