A Day at the Lake
Saturday, June 8, 2024 (Rain or Shine!)
11 am -4 pm

Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater, 400 Crazy Horse Drive, Moneta, Virginia

 

Smith Mountain Lake Association brings the SML community together to enjoy fun and interactive activities. This is a free event for people of all ages!

  • Free entry and free parking
  • Pet friendly (pets must be leashed)
  • Food trucks!

Interactive Events & Demonstrations

 

      • Tour a fire boat, meet the dive team, attend a boat docking clinic
      • Visit a buffer garden display and fish habitat demonstration area
      • Learn to monitor SML Water Quality on the Ferrum College science vessel
      • Prove your skill at the Life Jacket Challenge
      • Let your kids have fun looking at bugs through a hand-lens or microscope
      • Join the Lakeside Scavenger Hunt
      • Stop by the EcoKids Activity Tent for a fun and interactive kid zone
      • Get ideas to manage pesky geese and invasive weeds
      • See a drone monitoring the water of SML

 

Free vessel safety check if you boat, jet ski or paddle to Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater.

Plus raffles, prizes, and free stuff

Event Schedule

11:00 am – 4:00 pm Docks, Exhibits, Booths, Boats  and Food Trucks Open
Lakeside Scavenger Hunt (all ages)
Lake Ranger Qualifying (ages 5+)
Kiddie Fishing (wee ones)
Vessel Safety Checks (if it floats, get it checked)
Find Freddy Prizes Awarded

11:00 am Opening Celebration

11:30 am – 2:30 pm Meet Joy Manning
10X Women’s World Wakeboard Champion

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Dock Like a Pro (in-water demonstration)

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Dock Like a Pro

3:00 pm Raffle Winners Announced

Participating Groups

Antique & Classic Boat Society Smith Mountain Lake

Bedford County Sheriff

Buffer Landscape Gardens

Carefree Boat Club

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Fish Habitat

Franklin County Marine Unit

Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater

Invasive Weeds

Lake Quality Council

Save Our Streams

Sea Tow SML

Septic Systems

Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire & Rescue

SML Sail and Power Squadron (ABC-SML)

Tri-County Lakes Commission (TLAC)

TLAC Wake Education Task Force

Vessel Pump Out Program

Virginia Department of Health (VDH)

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)

Virginia Tech

Water Safety Council

Water Quality Monitoring

Food Trucks With Tasty Eats for Purchase

Dirty Water Dogs

Freddy Is Coming Back!

More details soon!

Freddy

Interactive Demonstrations

Antique & Classic Boat Society Smith Mountain Lake Chapter

Have an interest in Antique and Classic Boats but do not own one? No worries, you do not have to own an Antique boat to join the club. On display will be a 1948 Chris Craft.

Aquatic Weeds

See a live demonstration of aquatic weeds, including invasive weeds you might find at SML.

Bedford County Sheriff’s Office

The Patrol Boat will be onsite between patrols and will be staffed with two officers. Deputies will talk about safe navigation on the lake and hiring opportunities with the department.

Boat Docking Clinic

Dock like a professional.This demonstration will show you how to dock your boat gracefully, without damage or panic.

Buffer Landscaping Demo Garden/Plant Auction

Visit a buffer landscaping demonstration garden. Talk with buffer landscaping experts about proper plant selection for your property. Learn why buffer gardens help the water quality of SML. Enter for a chance to win selected potted plants on display.

Bugs in the Streams

Save our Streams team members will introduce the critters who live in our streams. See these bugs up close through microscopes. Learn why SMLA collects, counts and identifies these inhabitants.

Carefree Boat Club

Find out about Smith Mountain Lake’s option to boat ownership – boating without owning!

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Get boating safety information and learn what the Coast Guard Auxiliary does at SML. This a volunteer organization supports the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The mission is to promote boating safety and provide support to the Coast Guard in a wide range of non-law enforcement activities.

County of Franklin Marine Unit

The Office of the Sheriff, County of Franklin Marine Unit provides law enforcement services related to the navigable water of Smith Mountain Lake. This program includes lake patrols, responding to emergency calls for lake-related service, and educating the public about water safety practices.

EcoKids Fun Tent and Lakeside Scavenger Hunt

Visit the EcoKids Fun Tent for the Lakeside Scavenger Hunt with prizes. Enjoy activities like coloring pages, puzzles, kiddie fishing, stickers, and more!

Ferrum College Boat

Visit the Ferrum College Water Quality Monitoring Vessel. Find out how SMLA knows the lake is healthy. Have fun checking how clear the water is with various instruments. Learn more about SML’s Water Quality Monitoring program.

Fireboats

Tour a SML fireboat. This all-volunteer public safety organization responds to hundreds structure and boat fires, medical emergencies, watercraft collisions and boaters in distress each year. See how the Emergency Response Dive (ERD) team supports underwater search and recovery operations.

Fish Habitats

Check out the fish habitat structures that SMLA and DWR put into the lake to provide places for small fish to hide. See a map of the habitat locations.

Sea Tow SML

Stop by the Sea Tow booth and participate in water safety games for prizes.Attempt the timed life jacket challenge or try your hand at “Throw Don’t Go”.Snap a “Vest Friends 4 Ever” or “Kiss Me I’m a Sober Skipper” selfie.Enjoy a free root beer while they last.

Septic Smart

Information on why and how to be septic smart.

Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC)

TLAC is the administrative department for the four Virginia counties surrounding Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake. Learn about TLAC’s Navigation and Environmental Committees, Adopt-a-Light/Adopt-a-Buoy program, Debris reporting, and Vessel Pump-Out program.

Vessel Pump Out Program (VPOP)

VPOP provides free dockside vessel sewage holding tank pump-out services. This program protects SML from potential human waste pollution.  This is a cooperative program offered by SMLA, TLAC, and VDH.

Virginia Department of Health (VDH)

The VDH Office of Environmental Health Services staff will discuss its marina programs including Clean Vessel, Smith Mountain Lake Pump-Out, and other environmental initiatives.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)

Conservation Police Officers will provide promotional material, and answer boating, hunting, and fishing questions. The Virginia Conservation Police work to Conserve our natural resources, Connect people to Virginia’s outdoors, and Protect people and property through safe outdoor experiences.

Virginia Tech

Learn how drones are used for water monitoring. See a drone in action!

Wake Education Task Force

Meet TLAC’s Wake Education Task Force.Chat with SML’s 10-time wakeboarding champion.Find out the best spots on SML for towed water sports.Understand the power of a wake and keeping your riders safe.Check out a wake boat.

Volunteer to Help!

Beach Safety Monitors

Boat Ramp Safety Monitors

Food & Beverage Monitors

General Support

Membership Booth

Parking

Set-Up and Take Down

If you would like to volunteer, provide your name and email below. We will be in touch!