by Danna Martínez
The 2021 White Lake Water Festival appeared to have everything. From a golf tournament, a car show, live entertainment, food and craft vendors, to large crowds with smiling faces.
This year the White Lake Water Festival was held the fourth weekend of May. Friday the festivities included the Rotary Golf Tournament, a cruise in and live music.
On Saturday the main program of the festival took place. In the morning, at 10, the parade began as is the tradition. The entrance to the march was led by local law enforcement, followed by gleaming and flashy Fire Department trucks. Among the fire departments were White Lake, Dublin, White Oak, Elizabethtown, and Clarkton.
[slideshow_deploy id=’211488′]
Just behind the emergency responders were the motorcyclists. There were several performances by Sudan Shriners. Among some of them were Sudan Tomcats, Pirates, Roadsters, and Cruisers. The Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy Cadet Corps marched in step. The school’s cadets did part of this grand celebration with their heads held high walking in perfect unity.
The Grand Marshals of the parade were original members of the Ski Heels. They were followed by the Town of White Lake Commissioners, including the Town of White Lake Mayor, Goldston Womble and the Mayor of the Town of Elizabethtown, Sylvia Campbell with the Town of Elizabethtown Town Council.
Various companies, organizations, and groups were part of the event—each one of them with their vehicle in representation and signs.
Without a doubt, the clowns performed a great show, with music, colors, and full of fun and good energy to infect people with emotion. A group of pirates arrived, sharing music and dazzling people with their costumes and vehicle decorations. However, they weren’t the only ones who caught the public’s attention, so were the golf carts!
The BladenOnline team had the opportunity to talk with festival goers from different parts of our state. There were people from Fayetteville, White Lake, and Elizabethtown.
Rex a visitor at Camp Clearwater said, “We’ve been coming since 1970.” So far, he has not presented any vehicle to the festival, but he has undoubtedly been a faithful spectator.
The variety and gleaming details of the cars at the car show located at the LAKE Church drew a crowd. Some presenters told us how they had to repair and change various parts of their vehicles to keep them unique.
Mrs. Glinda and her husband Larry told us a little about their car story. “We bought the car in 1999. We went to West Virginia. We are from Winnsboro, NC, and we went up to see that it was in a trailer.” Mrs. Glinda showed us the start of the car, not in its best condition. Mrs. Glinda also said, “We would like to honor Jesus with that because he freed us, so we are going to get the deliveries out, and you can be restored.” Mrs. Glinda and her husband Larry told us that just as they restored the car, Jesus restored them.
The White Lake Water Festival offered a space for sharing. Our team had the opportunity to speak with Miss Dublin Peanut Festival, Alyssa Bell. Bell invites all to share and celebrate the Dublin Peanut Festival coming up in September.
Games, crafts, food vendors, and lots of laughter describe the entrance to the Southern Touch and Spare Change live concert at Goldston’s Beach.
Celebrated like never before, the White Lake Water Festival brought together hundreds of people. In the words of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Executive Director Terri Dennison on Saturday, “It’s fantastic. We have such a nice crowd out right here. The parade was wonderful, lots of good entries. We have a lot of different vendors. We are looking forward to the rest of the day and for the music tonight.”
View the video of the parade on our YouTube channel.
About Author
