Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays

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By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Crown family’s boat previews Halloween with an inflatable black cat and pumpkin.

Region – With this year’s theme of holidays, the sights and sounds of several special occasions were celebrated Sept. 8 when the annual Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade began and ended at Regatta Point in Worcester.

Decorated boats were judged for creativity by state Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury); state Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury); Shrewsbury Selectmen Beth Casavant and Moira Miller; Angela Snell, director of Shrewsbury Parks, Recreation and Cemetery; and state Rep. James O’Day (D-West Boylston). For the second year, the entries were judged in two categories: pontoons and other boats.

In the pontoons category, the green-clad Wise family of Uxbridge earned first place with a lucky rainbow and shamrocks covering their St. Patrick’s Day design. The Ivory family of Worcester placed second for their cornstalk-covered pontoon garnished with a Halloween jack-o-lantern. On the date of the parade, Eliza Craft turned age 13 and rode on the third-place entry decorated as a birthday party with her 12-year-old friends Brooke Colangelo and Barbara Forgues, all of Shrewsbury. The Whitcomb family of Shrewsbury placed fourth with their entry celebrating Festivus, a holiday jokingly observed on a 1997 episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.”

As for the other boats, the Allen family of Worcester won first place for their “Love Boat” tribute to Valentine’s Day adorned with oversized Necco Sweethearts and a Hershey’s kiss. The Crown family of Shrewsbury placed second for their Halloween preview featuring an inflatable black cat and pumpkin. The Easter Bunny rode onboard the third-place decorated boat of Madulka’s Ice Cream in Worcester.

The boat parade was relocated in 2016 from the Donahue Rowing Center in Shrewsbury to Regatta Point in Worcester to join other activities and create Lake Quinsigamond Day. Preceding the afternoon parade, the celebration began that morning with a Classic Boat Show. Festivities continued with a pizza truck, and beer and wine. Live music was provided by Blues House Between.

Lake Quinsigamond Day is organized by Baystate Woodies, Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association and Regatta Point Community Sailing. This year’s event sponsors were Doug Russell Marine, Full Throttle Marine, Shoreside Docks, Ski Chair and USA Marine.

Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.

Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Whitcomb family’s boat celebrates Festivus, a holiday jokingly observed on an episode of “Seinfeld.”
Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
(l to r) Eliza Craft, 13, Barbara Forgues, 12, and Brooke Colangelo, 12, celebrate a birthday party.
Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Ivory family rides in their cornstalk-covered pontoon adorned with a Halloween jack-o-lantern.
Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Wise family’s boat displays their St. Patrick’s Day design with a lucky rainbow and shamrocks.
Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Allen family’s “Love Boat” pays tribute to Valentine’s Day decorated with oversized holiday candies.
Lake Quinsigamond Boat Parade celebrates year-round holidays
The Easter Bunny and friends are onboard the decorated boat of Madulka’s Ice Cream.

 

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