Winnisquam 4th of July Boat Parade

Lexxi · 07-09-2007, 02:53 PM

The Lake Winnisquam 4th of July Boat Parade was awful. I am not sure if they were trying ot beat the rain or what, but it was really bad........

hilltopper · 07-09-2007, 03:18 PM

I've never really seen the parade before. That being said, I just happened to be at the sandbar as it went by and it wasn't very impressive. In the parade's defense, it was held in the middle of the week in less than stellar weather.

feb · 07-09-2007, 04:03 PM

What parts about it did you not like or what was your expectation?

In a nutshell, it's 25-30 boats, decorated (some more, some less) who putt -putt from Pot Island to the South End and back. I've participated 3 years now and while I can say it's not the grandest parade, it is alot of fun. Actually, most of the fun is before the parade when, as a family, we decide how we are going to decorate the boat and work on the decorations. The actual parade is a bit anti-climactic.

When you look at is for what it is - like minded individuals who want some innocent fun and want to continue a tradition - it's not half bad. These types of events that involve the whole family, young and old, are getting harder and harder to find in this day and age. It's no Rose Bowl Parade however.

My only complaint - too slow. It needed to speed up a little bit and only be a couple of hours. It's hard to keep the kids entertained for 3 hours of putt-putting.

Also, this year, alot of boats bailed out of the parade before it even got to the sandbar becuase the clouds were looking ominous - us included.

Lexxi · 07-09-2007, 06:21 PM

We saw the parade last year for the first time, we loved it, it was great. This year I would say the weather had alot to do with it, but most of the boats that came by us did not even have decorations on them.
It looks like alot of fun and work goes into the parade. All we can do is hope for better weather next year July 4th is a Friday !!!
Sorry if I offended anyone.

Sunrise Point · 07-12-2007, 09:27 PM

I have been up working at our camp for the last two weeks and totally forgot about the parade until I saw an older model pontoon boat a few docks south of us, head out decorated in a very impressive Batmobile motif. It was playing the Batman theme song as it headed south towards Pot Island. I loved it!

feb · 07-13-2007, 08:10 AM

That was I, Sunrise. Glad you liked it! We had alot of fun thinking about what to do. As usual, the idea sounded good to the kids but when it came down to doing the work, they were no where to be found.

SAMIAM · 07-13-2007, 08:32 AM

I'm also on the "little" lake after growing up on Winnipesaukee.Many wonderful years on Swallow Point. Now ,instead of performance boat thunder,I'm lulled to sleep by loons.On the north end of the lake there is over a mile of undeveloped shore that is a wildlife preserve and makes for a very peaceful lifestyle.Nice to be able to find flat water to ski on even on weekends in the summer.The bad part is....there's not much to do.3 or 4 restaurants tops.Don't get me wrong....I love the big lake but it's just getting too busy out there.Lots of grandchildren will be skiing soon and it's much more relaxing on a smaller lake.

lacey · 07-13-2007, 07:43 PM

I have to agree that it wasn't the best of parade's. The weather was not on their side but it didn't look as if the same effort had been put into the decorations this year as in last years. By the time we saw it, (just past the sandbar) there weren't very many boats in it and some of the deorations looked like they may have blown off or ripped off. Also the people in the boats didn't seem to be in the spirit of things. Last year everyone was waving and singing, this year most just stood there and didn't return waves or shouts. (With the exception of the fire boat and the boat slinging water balloons.) Hopefully next year will be better weather for all involved.

07-09-2007, 02:53 PM	#1
Lexxi Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lake Winnisquam Parade The Lake Winnisquam 4th of July Boat Parade was awful. I am not sure if they were trying ot beat the rain or what, but it was really bad........ __________________ Lexxi

07-09-2007, 04:03 PM	#3
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 218 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	What was wrong with it What parts about it did you not like or what was your expectation? In a nutshell, it's 25-30 boats, decorated (some more, some less) who putt -putt from Pot Island to the South End and back. I've participated 3 years now and while I can say it's not the grandest parade, it is alot of fun. Actually, most of the fun is before the parade when, as a family, we decide how we are going to decorate the boat and work on the decorations. The actual parade is a bit anti-climactic. When you look at is for what it is - like minded individuals who want some innocent fun and want to continue a tradition - it's not half bad. These types of events that involve the whole family, young and old, are getting harder and harder to find in this day and age. It's no Rose Bowl Parade however. My only complaint - too slow. It needed to speed up a little bit and only be a couple of hours. It's hard to keep the kids entertained for 3 hours of putt-putting. Also, this year, alot of boats bailed out of the parade before it even got to the sandbar becuase the clouds were looking ominous - us included.

07-09-2007, 06:21 PM	#4
Lexxi Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Parade We saw the parade last year for the first time, we loved it, it was great. This year I would say the weather had alot to do with it, but most of the boats that came by us did not even have decorations on them. It looks like alot of fun and work goes into the parade. All we can do is hope for better weather next year July 4th is a Friday !!! Sorry if I offended anyone. __________________ Lexxi

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07-09-2007, 03:18 PM	#2
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 730 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	I've never really seen the parade before. That being said, I just happened to be at the sandbar as it went by and it wasn't very impressive. In the parade's defense, it was held in the middle of the week in less than stellar weather.

07-12-2007, 09:27 PM	#5
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	I have been up working at our camp for the last two weeks and totally forgot about the parade until I saw an older model pontoon boat a few docks south of us, head out decorated in a very impressive Batmobile motif. It was playing the Batman theme song as it headed south towards Pot Island. I loved it!

07-13-2007, 08:10 AM	#6
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 218 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	That was I, Sunrise. Glad you liked it! We had alot of fun thinking about what to do. As usual, the idea sounded good to the kids but when it came down to doing the work, they were no where to be found.

07-13-2007, 08:32 AM	#7
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,937 Thanks: 349 Thanked 1,708 Times in 602 Posts	I'm also on the "little" lake after growing up on Winnipesaukee.Many wonderful years on Swallow Point. Now ,instead of performance boat thunder,I'm lulled to sleep by loons.On the north end of the lake there is over a mile of undeveloped shore that is a wildlife preserve and makes for a very peaceful lifestyle.Nice to be able to find flat water to ski on even on weekends in the summer.The bad part is....there's not much to do.3 or 4 restaurants tops.Don't get me wrong....I love the big lake but it's just getting too busy out there.Lots of grandchildren will be skiing soon and it's much more relaxing on a smaller lake.

07-13-2007, 07:43 PM	#8
lacey Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MA Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have to agree that it wasn't the best of parade's. The weather was not on their side but it didn't look as if the same effort had been put into the decorations this year as in last years. By the time we saw it, (just past the sandbar) there weren't very many boats in it and some of the deorations looked like they may have blown off or ripped off. Also the people in the boats didn't seem to be in the spirit of things. Last year everyone was waving and singing, this year most just stood there and didn't return waves or shouts. (With the exception of the fire boat and the boat slinging water balloons.) Hopefully next year will be better weather for all involved.