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Garner Lake Activities

Fireworks display
Fireworks on Garner Lake

Fourth of July Fireworks

This is a weekend of events that makes Garner Lake SPECIAL!

For many years, the fireworks show has been one of the largest dispalys in Shelby County and it all happens in our backyards!

The fireworks show is supported entirely by donations and volunteers from people living on and around the lake.

Annually, around the 4th of July

 

Fireworks over Garner Lake with boats in the foreground
Garner Lake Fireworks
Fireworks over Garner Lake
Garner Lake Fireworks
Fireworks over Garner Lake in Lakeland TN
Garner Lake Fireworks
Fireworks Video by Donnie Benfield
The boat parade on Garner Lake in Lakeland TN
Fourth of July Boat Parade

Boat Parade

Decorate your boat and meet in the middle by 8 pm to follow parade marshal Bert Faller.  Awards for the best decorated boats and most spirited crew.

Annually, the day of the fireworks

a 1 hrpontoon boat decorated for the Fourth of July
The Brown’s Decorated Boat
Pontoon Boats forming a parade on Garner Lake in Lakeland TN
Boat Parade for Fourth of July
Fourth of July decorations on Lakeland Lake
John & Vicky Brown’s July 4 Decorations

 

 

Patriotic Lighting Contest

Light up the lake side of your property with a patriotic theme and leave the lights on in the evening!  (Think patriotic Christmas in July.)

Unique trophies are awarded.

This is a great reason to tour the lake in the evenings!

Annually, around the Fourth of July

 

Sailboat on Garner Lake
Jan & Chip Averwater’s Fourth of July Lights
Cauleys’ Fourth of July Decorations
Boats at Sunset watching the concert on Garner Lake
Boats Gathered at Sunset for a Concert

 

 

 

Concerts on the Lake

Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks, launch the boat, tie up with friends, and enjoy some great music on the lake. The 2020 lineup included Blackwater Trio, Your Academy, Kevin & Bethany Paige, Thumpdaddy, and Music City Stones.  (Organized and staged by a group of individuals who live on the lake, not GLA or GLM; the organizers invite all lake residents to participate and enjoy.)

 

Summer nights

 

 

 

Concert Goers from Above
7/18/20 Concert from a Drone – 96 Boats
Prizes for the Poker Run on Garner Lake
Party Girls at a Saturday Concert
Boats at Sunset watching the concert on Garner Lake
Perry Ferrell Presenting Poker Run Awards

 

 

 

Poker Run

Visit the five neighbors on the Poker Run route for drinks and appetizers, draw a card, and gather in the middle to see whose hand wins. (Organized and staged by a group of individuals who live on the lake, not GLA or GLM; the organizers invite all lake residents to participate.)

 

Prizes for the Poker Run on Garner Lake
Poker Run Trophies
a poster promoting the Poker Run on Garner Lake
Poker Run Poster
Boats with passengers squirting each other with squirt guns
Water Gun Fight
Kids on a pontoon boat preparing the squirt other participants
Water Gun Fight

 

 

Water Gun Fight

Meet in the middle at 2:00 sharp for the traditional water gun fight.  Bring your biggest squirt guns—and plan to get wet. 

(White flag on the boat means not participating in the the water gun fight.)

Annually, day after the 4th of July fireworks

a pontoon boat with two kids with large squirt guns
Water Gun Fight
a pontoon tie-up party with six pontoons
Pontoon Party in the Middle

 

 

Pontoon Tie-up

Tie up your boats in one big flotilla and get to know your lake neightbors!  BYOB.  (Not an official GLA activity—just impromtu by lake residents.)

Spontaneous, every pretty weekend.

Lots of swimmers beside pontoon boats
Swimming Party in the Middle
a party on a patio on Garner Lake in Lakeland TN
Party on the Patio
a patio on Garner Lake
Patio overlooking the lake

 

 

Patio Party

Get out, invite your neighbors, and enjoy the setting.

Any pretty day

Christmas Lights on front of a house on Garner Lake
John & Vicky Brown’s

 

 

Christmas Lights

Decorate your house, street-side or lake-side, and enjoy the show.

Every Christmas season

Past Winners

 

 

 

Christmas Lights on Garner Lake
2019 Second Place
Christmas Lights on Garner Lake
2019 Grand Champion
Christmas Lights on Garner Lake
Chip & Jan Averwater’s
Grand champions of the Garner Lake BBQ contest
Nick & Ashley Averwater 2017
the BBQ party with lots of people eating BBQ
BBQ Party
Awards for the winners of the BBQ contest
BBQ Awards
Party goers enjoying BBQ at the BBQ contest

 

 

BBQ Contest & Party Q

Five categories: Beverage, Dessert, Wings, Pork Ribs, and Anything But.  Certified judges, awards, live music, and food afterward.  (This activity is organized and staged by a group of individuals who live on the lake and not GLA or Garner Lake Management, but they invite all lake residents to participate.)

the party at Doug Golden's house after the BBQ contest
BBQ Awards and Party
a fisherman in the sunset on Garner Lake in Lakeland TN

 

 

Fishing Tournaments

Muster in the middle of the lake at 6:30 am and try your luck against the other anglers.  Prizes, fun, and a few bets on the side. (Organized by a group of avid fishermen lake residents.)

Regularly, all spring, summer, & fall.

Sean Carrick holds large bass he caught
A Nice Catch

 

 

Polar Plunge

Swimming New Years Day?!!!  They say it’s fun—it’s definitely fun to watch!

January 1

by Angie Donnelly