Four Days of Summer Fun
Flying candy, coveted frozen treats, handshakes from elected officials, and the rousing sounds of a well-practiced marching band blended with high humidity and summer temperatures Saturday for a classic Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival parade.
While the city gathered for the highlight of the weekend festival, the parade was far from the only game in town. The annual late July festival featured three days of fun, including turtle races, a pickleball tournament, a softball tournament, road racers, fireworks, the Circus of Bubbles, cardboard boat races, bingo, kids’ races, and live music from bands such as Super Frank and Hairball.
The Water Carnival has had a long and extensive history, with the first one being held in 1955, shortly after the first homes were built for employees of the Erie Mining Company, with residents gathering at Birch Cove on Colby Lake for a community city picnic to help the new neighbors get acquainted.
It grew from a picnic to more of what it is today when the Colby Lake Water Ski Club formed and started performing water ski shows during the event. Over time, carnival rides, food, and beer booths were added, prompting the name change to Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival.
In its current form, the Water Carnival is a major four-day summer festival held on the fourth weekend of July and drawing thousands of visitors to the area.
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