FINDLEY LAKE—The floats really float in the annual Independence Day parade in this southwestern Chautauqua County village. It’s on the water.

The 19th annual Boat Parade in Findley Lake will be held at 2 p. m. July 4. Boats decorated in a college football theme will circle the lake and pass in review in front of crowds on the downtown waterfront. Judges will choose winners in the motor boat and float boat classes, and a grand prize will be given to the boat receiving the most votes from the public.

In addition to the boat parade, there will be a full day of July 4 activities, including a chicken barbecue lunch, the Chamber of Commerce Duck Race at 12:30 p. m. and tours of the Nature Center and its new Arctic Musk Ox exhibit from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. It concludes with a display of flares along the lakeshore at 9:30 p. m. and fireworks at 10.

This will be the first year that the parade will be organized by the Findley Lake Community Foundation.

Craig and Stacy Breter, whose family began the parade in 1990, have decided to retire.