Fox Lake boat show patrons can contribute to Venetian Night
People looking for a new boat this weekend will also be able to donate to help cover the expenses of the Fox Lake Venetian Night held annually the first weekend of August.
Blarney's Island is hosting the in-water boat show at the island tavern on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The boat show will feature more than 100 boats from more than a dozen local boat dealers. Those boats will be demonstrated at the Port O' Blarney on Grass Lake Road and at the island bar in the middle of Grass Lake.
Boats 25 feet and shorter will be docked at the Port O' Blarney, while boats longer than 26 feet will be parked at the island, said Rob Hardman, co-owner of Blarney's.
Hardman said the boat show is free to customers, but manufacturers and dealers are required to make a donation to help fund Venetian Night on Aug. 7.
"This is not only a fundraiser for Venetian Night, but it's the only boat show on water on the Chain O' Lakes," he said. "So, we have asked the manufacturers to pay a donation to the Venetian Night because it's a great concept that should be continued for a very long time."
This is the second boat show hosted by Blarney's. A much smaller boat show was held last year and was a great success, he said.
"We expect this event to be even bigger than that," Hardman said. "It really should be quite an event."
Anyone who purchases any meal at the Port O' Blarney on Saturday will receive a free shuttle ride to the island for the boat show.
The larger boats will arrive at the island at 1 p.m., while the trailered boats will start appearing at the Port O' Blarney at 10 a.m., he said.
At the island, there will be demo rides from dealers and live music throughout the afternoon.
Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the day, with all benefits going to benefit the Venetian Night.
Venetian Night takes place every summer on western Grand Avenue on Pistakee Lake in Fox Lake.
The event features a block party starting at 6 p.m., a boat parade at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.