MONTAGUE — Saturday marked the fourth annual Float-a-Palooza, a White Lake area event whose stated goal is to break the world record for largest flotilla by inviting residents to create a raft of interconnected kayaks and canoes.
The White Lake Snow Farmers, a non-profit which provides artificial snow for local sledding hills, hosts the event, which operates as a fundraiser for the continual maintenance of their equipment.
The event doesn’t just benefit the Snow Farmers, as 10% of funds raised are donated to similar organizations which seek to preserve West Michigan’s natural resources for outdoor recreation. In the past, the Snow Farmers have donated to the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association, Michigan Edge Mountain Bike Association, and the White Lake Association. Float-a-Palooza number four shared profits with the West Michigan Underwater Preserve, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the ongoing preservation of the shipwrecks and natural features under the water of West Michigan’s shoreline.
The flotilla record is currently held by a similar fundraising event, One Square Mile of Hope, with 3,150 individual canoes and kayaks rafted together. The past two years have seen attendance in the 400s, and while the hopes were 2025 would see that number increase, the final count was 225.
Rainy weather forecasts dampened attendance and ominous gray clouds threatened the event. With every strong breeze the flotilla swayed and spun, a motley crew of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and unicorn floaties. Regardless, for those kayakers who paddled out into White Lake to meet the colorful flotilla, good vibes were abound.
Those good vibes were fostered by the organizers of the event and the entertainment. Tommy Foster and The FAN Club have provided music for the event each year, the songs an eclectic mix of yacht rock, oldies, and show-tunes featuring expertly improvised lyrics. Johnny Cash never released a song about the tragic capsizing of a unicorn floatie, but given a popular tune and a silly enough situation, Foster will compose an appropriate ballad. This year The FAN Club’s ever-rotating roster also featured musicians Steve Ogden and Justin Avdek.
As Ogden explained, “We’re like the Wu-Tang Clan. You never know what members you’ll be seeing.”
The FAN Club performed on the roof of a houseboat, which also served as the focal point for the flotilla. Owners of The Groove Record Shop in Montague, Joel and Annie Mikaelsen, provided the boat for the day’s events - or as Joel called it, “the company yacht.” The “company yacht” was launched from Maple Grove Marina and met early kayakers by 12:30 p.m. By 1, Snow Farmer Rusty McBride boarded the boat from his own kayak and began his role as MC of the event, heralding the day’s festivities.
Rusty started by thanking attendees for braving the weather, the event sponsors, and their volunteers, many of which were posted across the various boat launches in White Lake to register and help kayakers into the water. He also reminded everyone to visit one of the several boats along the perimeter to retrieve a red wristband, which would aid in the final headcount.
The drone photo, which served as the climactic attendance-counting and record-keeping for Float-a-Palooza, was scheduled for 2 p.m., with plenty of fun planned for the intervening hour. Gary Passon represented the West Michigan Underwater Preserve and spoke to the crowd about the organization’s mission and efforts. Fifteen minutes prior to the drone photo, Valerie Hanson prepared and presented a “Blessing of the Boats” for the kayakers, who were then 'christened' with squirt guns and lake water. Valerie ended her blessing with a fitting prayer for anyone celebrating the close of summer: “May your drinks be cold, your sunscreen strong, and your return to shore triumphant.”
As the drone approached the kayaks, Rusty reminded everyone that in order to be considered a flotilla, every floating object must be connected to another.
“Everybody’s got to be touching. Find a connection,” was the reminder as attendees scrambled to secure one of the several ropes tethered to the houseboat, or simply just reached out to hold the kayak next to them.
Once the drone had taken their pictures, the flotilla quickly disassembled and many attendees returned to shore, though many others remained behind until Tommy and The FAN Club’s concert came to an end, enjoying the sun as it finally broke out from behind the rain clouds.
While the final count of 225 was not the 500 that Snow Farmers president John Hanson hoped for, “all that did attend had a good time.” The weather may have affected numbers this year, but the hope is the number of White Lake residents who consider Float-a-Palooza as one of their most cherished summer traditions will only rise. While it may not be breaking records this year, a kaleidoscope of 225 kayaks and canoes coming together to celebrate the natural wonders of West Michigan and, as Valerie said, “celebrating the simple act of floating” is all White Lake needs.
