Summer activities about to heat up

This summer, the whole of Lake D’Arbonne Country will be getting  busy as a community crappie hole up Corney Creek. Get out your calendar. Here’s a brief look at some of what’s going on:

But first, a simple prayer:

God, Please, Bless America. Land That I Love.

Stand Beside Her. And Guide Her.

Through The Night With The Light From Above

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The area’s two biggest BIG bass tournaments ended up on the same weekend this year. They had been a month apart, but will both be held Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12. They are the annual Majestic Big Bass tournament on Lake D’Arbonne and the Ronald McDonald House Big Bass tournament on the Ouachita River.

Both tournaments are for good causes and have a history of being great events for area bass fishermen. They also both have a huge impact on the area’s economy. It’s a shame they ended up on the same weekend, which has traditionally been the Majestic weekend. For more information about the Majestic, call Dale or Gale Taylor at 318-235-1039 or 368-0666. For more on the McDonald’s tournament, call 387-7933.

If you like boat races, or just a good time on the lake, make plans to attend the Battle on the ‘Bone 800 foot drag boat races off Ramp Road. The races will be over a two day period, June 25-26. You can follow the latest details and plans on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/BattleOnTheBonne/

The Fourth of July is always a big weekend on the lake. This year will be no exception. There will be the usual fireworks show over the water on Saturday, July 2. That day is also filling up with big activities, including a rebirth of the old boat parade. There is a lot of incentive this year: A $500 first prize for best decorated boat for starters. Farmerville Mayor Stein Baughman, Jr., will be the Grand Marshall.

There will a lot of activities like that being organized by Lache Pas la Patate’s on the lake. Most of the activities will be around the Ramp Road area. Other planned events include special recognition for veterans, kids playgrounds and food vendors plus live music from 4-8 p.m. If you want to find out more, or take part in some way, call them at 337-298-3161. We will have more closer to the event (especially if Brett invites me over for some crawfish).

https://www.facebook.com/LachePasLaPatates/

The end of July will bring the 53rd annual Watermelon Festival back to downtown Farmerville July 29-30. There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than with a big dose of watermelon and the Watermelon Festival.

Events will include a parade, tennis tournament, bicycle and tricycle races, arm wrestling contest, street vendors, on the Courthouse Square, watermelon eating and seed spitting contests, a best dressed watermelon competition and a street dance. During these activities, arts and craft vendors, food and games will be open on the Courthouse Square.

There is also a pageant for all ages. One interesting note on the sponsors site this year: “There has been an increase in entry fees and pageant tickets due to the recent
change Louisiana sales tax “. I’m not positive, but I don’t think there is additional tax on eating watermelon….yet. And don’t forget to pick up your Festival t-shirt. Not only are they attractive and a great souvenir of the weekend, they help the Jaycees fund this wonderful event. Yes, you have to pay sales tax on them this year, too.

More information is available here:

http://fjaycees.wix.com/watermelonfestival

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This is a great time to be spending a weekend or a week at one of the lake’s fine rental properties, such as the D’Arbonne State Park, D’Arbonne Pointe Resort or one of the many vacation rentals on the lake.

And a final note:     We’ll be taking a couple of weeks off to respool our reels, rest the outboard and let the old computer keyboard cool off a bit.

We’ll be back with new material on the line Tuesday, June 21.

In the meantime, if you can’t go without a regular fix of lakedarbonnelife.com, type in your favorite subject in the “search” box on this page and relive some of our adventures from the archives of this page.

Like wine, fine writing just gets better with age.