Organizers say Petite Lake Sandbar Party is off

Organizers of one of the largest summer events on the Chain O' Lakes said the Petite Lake Sandbar Party has been canceled until further notice.

Mike Deron, owner of funonthefox.com and organizer of the annual bash, said the event has become too large for one organization to handle on its own.

"We are taking a hiatus from doing it, at least for this year," Deron said of the event, which usually takes place near the end of July. "We were hoping another organization was willing to step up and take it over, but that hasn't happened. So, unless someone steps up here relatively fast, there will be not be an organized sandbar party like there has been for the past 15 years."

More than 5,000 boaters and hundreds of boats have been known to attend the annual sandbar party.

Easily considered the largest annual boat "tie-up" party on the Chain, boats tie together and anchor, then partygoers wander into a shallow, sandy area in the center of the lake to listen to live music.

In the past, the party has drawn the attention of a Girls Gone Wild film crew, as well as sheriff's officials and conservation groups because of the large crowd, excessive alcohol, public nudity and lack of security.

Officials from the Fox Waterway Agency, the Illinois Conservation Police, the United States Coast Guard and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency have been on hand to maintain order and assisted Deron in keeping the problems to a minimum.

Deron said the event is a huge undertaking to plan that involves months of meetings with various government agencies.

He also has to find and oversee 30 or more volunteers, and personally cover the cost of throwing the party. Those costs included paying to create boat parking signs to renting generators and covering the cost of the band. He estimates he's spent about $5,000 a year over the last two years.

"It's gone from a bunch of boats tying up and partying to becoming a more formal event where it takes coordination with other agencies like the Fox Waterway Agency and the Lake County Sheriff's Department," he said. "I'm just burned out after having done it for two years now."

Deron and his website took over the event from Rodney McManamy, who started it in 1992. When McManamy stepped down, the event drew just over 1,000 boats and about 4,000 people.

Deron said he and his website will have several other events on the Chain throughout the year, but added he can't deal with chaos created by the sandbar party and the 5,000 people who attend it.

"It's a great event and a great party, but it's really a lot of work and the cost is astronomical," he said. "Anyone who wants to take it over, I'm willing to help them. But, they should be prepared that it takes a ton of work to do it right."

Rob Hardman, co-owner of Blarney's Island on the Chain O' Lakes, said the area will definitely feel an economic impact from the loss of the event, adding Blarney's Island had some of their busiest days around the time of the annual sandbar party.

But, he also said the loss of the party should be helpful for police, fire and other agencies that are on high alert during the festivities.

"I certainly understand why (Deron) doesn't want to do it anymore because it was really getting out of control, to the point where the fun was removed from an organizing standpoint," Hardman said. "That event brought a lot of revenue throughout the Chain. But, it's also very taxing on resources like the sheriff's department and the Fox Waterway Agency. So, there is good and bad with it being canceled."