… And The Lake Shook!
On July 3rd the waters of Douglas Lake were certainly rocking as Shakin’ the Lake 2014 came to Dandridge. It was an up and down year for the annual event, having trouble finding financial footing when funding contributions from the Town fell short of their requested contribution, resulting in the initial cancellation of the highly anticipated Independence Day kick off event. Strong community disappointment and a group of local businesses that stepped up to help The Point Marina, the hosts of the annual event, meet those final dollars resulted in saving the fireworks extravaganza.
Shakin’ the Lake started early on Thursday, with free events for the kids. The Point had inflatables, balloon animals and a boat load of fun stuff for the family to do, including a great water slide and trampoline. As evening approached, droves of cars and boats headed for The Point. The parking lot was filled to capacity and the water was boat to boat, as the community arrived via land and water to join in the fun. Great music from The Fairview Union Band kept the crowd moving and Phil Williams was at the helm as M.C. for the event, adding his own flair for entertainment to the mix. David Rivers, one of the proprietors of The Point, also spent a little time on the microphone. Great food and entertainment were just the warm ups for the main event.
On the Town side of the lake, it was shoulder to shoulder people, as the crowds came out to watch the first fireworks of the holiday weekend. Sparks flew around 10 pm, as colorful bursts lit the night sky. Though official numbers are still out, Shakin’ the Lake 2014 looks like it will outpace previous years in attendance, proving that good things can happen when a community comes together and supports a great event. The Point Marina put on another stellar show and the community will continue to reap the benefits via the Boys and Girls Club, which was the beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds from the event. Shakin’ the Lake 2014 was the place to be on July 3rd and many, many were there to prove it, as the rockin’ water of Douglas Lake celebrated the birth of a great Nation.
