The winner of the 2015 Commodore trophy was the entry by the Jim Kramer family with their pirate ship entry.

SYRACUSE — Ever want to go all out decorating for Christmas, but the weather was just too cold? Here’s your chance to decorate until your heart’s content by entering the 2016 Wawasee Flotilla’s “Christmas In July” parade. The Flotilla will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3, and is celebrating its 55th parade.

What are your favorite ways to decorate for Christmas? Santa’s workshop, nativity scene, elves or gifts under the tree? Are you related to the Griswolds? Area residents are invited to decorate their floats, piers and cottages to show their Christmas spirit.

Use your creativity and imagination. Could we see Santa driving a boat? His elves working on a floating workshop? Reindeer taking off from the lake? Maybe there will be a Christmas tree floating around the lake with plenty of packages. Could we see the real meaning of Christmas and a nativity scene? Whether depicted on a boat or on shore participants are being encouraged to be creative and bring Christmas to the lake in July.

Don’t want to think about Christmas? You can still enter the Flotilla by decorating a boat depicting Lake Wawasee’s history, a patriotic theme or commemorate the state’s bicentennial.

This year’s parade will organize at the Spink Condominium at 1 p.m. and begin traveling clockwise around the lake at 1:30 p.m. The antique and wooden boats will lead the parade followed by this year’s commodores, officers with the Turkey Creek Fire Territory, representing the entire department.

A group of volunteers meet throughout the year to organize and plan the annual Wawasee Flotilla, making sure every detail is covered before the day’s event. Shown are members of that committee.
From left are David Mayer, Debi Mayer, Holly Tuttle, Tom Tuttle, Lisa Hill and Bill McCully. Not present were Julee Rauch and Duane Rauch. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

The Commodore’s Trophy will be awarded immediately following the parade at the Wawasee Spink pier. All other awards will be posted on the Flotilla Facebook page and can be picked up at the Channel Marker between 11 a.m. and noon Monday, July 4. Don’t forget to vote for the People’s Choice on the Flotilla’s Facebook page.

Additional awards include: Wawasee Property Owners Association Award, Department of Natural Resources Award and an Indiana Bicentennial Award, Most Original, Neighborhood, Youth, Wawasee History, Most Patriotic, Commercial/Business, Non-Profit and Best Wooden and Antique Boats. Awards will also be given for the best on-shore displays and there will be “People’s Choice Award” determined by Facebook voters.

Participants need to register in order to be eligible to win an award. Registration forms will be available at local retailers and Team Tuttle Mortgage, or call (574) 457-3775 or email [email protected] to have an entry blank sent to you. You may also register the day of the Flotilla at the Judges’ boat. Registered entries will be given a number.

T-shirts carrying this year’s Flotilla logo are available to purchase at Wawasee Marina, NewMarket, Main Channel marine and Team Tuttle Mortgage.

The Flotilla Cruise aboard the SS Lilly Pad will board at 6:30 p.m. and return at 10 p.m .Saturday, Aug. 13. The evening will include Woody Karaoke entertainment, appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets are $30 each. To get tickets contact Lisa Hill at [email protected]. The proceeds from the cruise will to toward the 2017 Flotilla.