Lake Macquarie’s iconic Float Your Boat parade returns in June.

Expressions of interest are now open for owners of vessels of five metres or more in length to deck out their rigs in dazzling light displays for two voyages on 23 and 24 June.

The annual two-day event transforms Lake Macquarie into a stage, with boats in the starring role.

The shoreline is then filled with family-friendly activities designed to warn off the winter chills.

• Friday 23 June 2023 – Empire Marina Lake Macquarie to Toronto, Coal Point and Wangi Wangi (western side of Lake Macquarie). Toronto foreshore will include live music, roaming illuminated performances, entertainment, children’s activities and food trucks from 5-9pm.
• Saturday 24 June 2023 – Empire Marina Lake Macquarie to Warners Bay, Eleebana, Valentine and Belmont (eastern side of Lake Macquarie). The Warners Bay foreshore will include live music, roaming illuminated performances, entertainment, children’s activities and food trucks from 5-9pm.

General manger of Empire Marina, the fleet’s launching point, David Randall said it was always a thrill for boat owners to jump on board and share their incandescent creations.

“There’s always excitement and challenge around coming up with the idea for what to put on your boat each year and make something look cool,” he said.

“The overwhelming feedback from boaties is how impressed they are by how many people are watching from the council shore activations, on the banks and from their houses around the lake.”

Mr Randall said as a family-owned business, Empire was “all about family, the community and having fun”.

“People using their boats is at the heart of what we do; it’s our DNA. We store boats, fix boats and facilitate people’s access to the water, so this event is something that we really want to be a part of,” he said.

This year’s Float Your Boat will be buoyed by live sites at Toronto Foreshore for the first leg of the technicolour tour on the western side of the lake, and Warners Bay foreshore on Saturday for the eastern journey.

Lake Macquarie City mayor Kay Fraser said the hubs would be the perfect place to enjoy the show, with live music, roaming illuminated performances, food trucks, children’s activities and more complementing the rainbow cruise.

“There’ll be no better place to watch the show as LED UFOs, glowing ghouls and radiant ‘Roos bound into view across the water,” she said.

Prizes include a $2,000 People’s Choice Award and two $1,000 Mayor’s Best Boat Awards for a vessel of 10m and over and a 5m and over entry.

Entries are now open with the first 20 registrations able to nominate for a $400 bonus to help kickstart the creative process.

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