Sun has its fun, but water is where it’s at, and the Elk River Boat Party is arguably the best way to combine the best of both with music, food and drink for one heck of a kick-off to summer and Fourth of July festivities.

“It’s just gotten bigger and bigger every year,” said organizer and co-host Mike Jackson. “It’s a great community event for families and surrounding communities to celebrate the Fourth of July week.”

This year is no exception. The boat party is now in its 12th year, with more than 300 boats expected to participate. However, this year will be different in that there will be a pre-party sponsor party 7–10 p.m. Saturday at Cajun’s Seafood in Sheffield.

Cajun’s Seafood is one of several sponsors for the event, tasked with helping pay for musical entertainment from Kozmic Mama and providing the occasional advice or input in the planning process. Jackson and his co-host/fiancee, Bridget Browning, opted to pay the sponsors back by randomly selecting one of them for a pre-party event and raffle.

“Everybody’s welcome,” Jackson said. “We’ve got Coby Greer out of Nashville, who records a lot in the Shoals. He’ll be coming down Saturday.”

The raffle will feature a “loaded” YETI Tundra 65 cooler filled with food vouchers, gift certificates and other goodies. Tickets or “chances” for the raffle are $10 each.

“When we randomly pick one of our sponsors, we’ll go to them and say, ‘We’ll sell these chances and give the donations to a charity you pick,'” Jackson said, adding that any school or organization is accepted.

Cajun’s Seafood chose the Hatton Volunteer Fire Department. Jackson said the department is currently so small and limited, they don’t even have oxygen masks. He said they hoped to repeat the fundraiser next year with a different sponsor and group.

Before then, however, will be the main event. The 12th annual Elk River Boat Party will begin 3 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at its usual location.

To get there requires a boat, of course. Once on the water, travel north from the Tennessee River on Elk River and under the U.S. 72 bridge. Take a left on Anderson Creek. The nearest boat launch is Lee Hi Bridge.

“Some will come in Friday evening and anchor out there and spend the night,” Jackson said. “They’ll watch the party, stay Saturday night and head back out Sunday.”

Kozmic Mama will perform from the pier that started it all, “30 feet above the water, where they can be seen good,” according to Jackson.

“When we started, I’d built a new pier with an upper deck, and we decided when we were building it earlier that summer, we thought it would be good for a band,” Jackson said. “We’ve known Kozmic Mama for a while. She’s a good songwriter, so we’ve had them the whole 12 years.”

When the band takes a break, the jet skis will head out, offering free coozies to partygoers.

“We went with some different colors this time,” Jackson said, adding camouflage and pink camouflage were among the options. “We went on Facebook and got different opinions.”

Water patrol will also be out and about in case of medical emergency or boating malfunction. They’ll also be checking to make sure everyone’s trash is dealt with appropriately.

“Bring a trash can or bag and put your trash in it,” Jackson said. “If the water patrol gotta come up to your boat, they’re going to ask to see your trash. If you’re eating or drinking and you ain’t got trash, then we know you’re putting in the water.”

Jackson said water patrol should be there for people’s safety, not to write tickets, and the event has prided itself on the lack of litter. He said in the past, people have described the event as “one of the most family-oriented parties.”

The party will be marked as a no wake zone due to the number of boats participating. Jackson said everything “from fishing boats without motors to kayaks to million-dollar cruise boats” will join the fun.

To tie it all off, Jackson said, there will be food on the grill.

“We cook all kinds of shoulders and barbecue and chicken and whatnot for the band,” Jackson said. “Whatever’s left, anybody who wants to can come up after the party is welcome to it.”

Like the food, the party is also open to anyone who wants to join, he said.

“Come to the river, grill, cook out, have water activities with family and friends,” he said.

“It’s a good event if you can make it out here.”

Sponsors

Browning has named the following as sponsors of the 12th annual Elk River Boat Party:

• Mike Jackson Home Builders

• Cajun’s Seafood

• Steve and Theresa Gatlin

• Brindley Construction

• Kathy Norton of RE/MAX Legacy

• Wade Boggs of Butler Realty

• SOS Insurance

• Murrey Chevrolet Buick GMC

• Tiffany Pack of Dream Key Realty

• Giles County Furniture

• Gerald’s Auto Body

• Advanced Electrical

• Grayson Carter and Son

• Classic Signs

• Twice the Ice

• Rogersville Hardware

• Allen Johnson Farms

• John Totten, PC

• Growing Younger Clinic

• New South Concrete

• Thomas Welding