This past Saturday, the Aquacade Watercraft Parade entertained thousands during the 3rd Annual Seneca Falls Canal Fest.
The floating armada of decorated boats travel through the Seneca Falls Canal Harbor on the Seneca-Cayuga Canal in this unique parade celebrating the creativity of the recreational boating community.
This year’s Aquacade included boats from outside the state to local businesses.
As many as 45 boats were docked in the Canal Harbor and rooted for their favorite decorated watercraft along with Canal Fest visitors who lined both sides of the Canal Harbor.
The participants floated by the judging platform to be awarded prizes for the best decorated and creative themes. The two time defending Grand Champions, the Ya Ya Girls, were chosen for third place for their Amelia Bloomer themed pontoon boat while Phoebes K9 Resort took second place with their play on the Steven Spielberg original Jaws movie. They invaded the Canal Harbor with shark costumed 4-legged friends with all passengers dawning “PAWS” shirts!
After participating in all of the past Aquacade Watercraft Parades, the Finger Lakes Athletic Club finally took home the Grand Champion award. Decorated like a huge bathtub, their team of luffas and bathers showered and rub-a-dubbed through the precession as they danced to the tune of “Rubber Ducky”. A special honorable mention was handed out to the tiniest entry, the Partial Eclipse. This hand-made duck decorated row boat traveled all the way from New Hampshire with its mother ship, the Eclipse.
Dennis Scannell, Aquacade organizer said, “This event has the potential to grow. Visitors are looking forward to this event and we are striving to include more recreational boaters as well as businesses and organizations to join in the fun. Seneca Falls owns this unique parade concept, dating back all the way to the 1960’s, and hope to reach the level of success that will keep the crowds coming. It’s funny, because the competition between the reoccurring participants is getting fierce but the bottom line is how much enjoyment everyone gets from just being in the Aquacade.”
Lakeside Engineering and Sienna Environmental Technologies sponsored this year’s Aquacade Watercraft Parade and awarded cash as well as plaques to the top three winners. As always, next year’s Aquacade will be held on the Saturday afternoon during the Canal Fest. Boats, floats, and all watercraft are invited to participate.
Follow the Canal Fest Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sfcanalfest to receive all of the news and announcements.
