Community Events
The Events Committee holds membership meetings, fundraising events, community events, and conservation events every year. The goal of the committee is to connect and rally our community around our shared resource.
The events include the Spring and summer membership meetings, the Lake Sarah Summer Picnic, 4th of July Boat Parade, and Winterfest. We also coordinate an Ice Clean Up Day each spring before the ice is off the lake to keep trash and waste from entering the lake.
Events Calendar:
Winterfest. February 23 in the lake in front of the Foster’s house on the lake.
Annual Spring Membership Meeting. April 28, 2025
Boat Parade. July 4th each year
Summer Picnic, Membership Meeting, and Board Elections. July 14, 2025
February 23, 2024
Please join our Lake Sarah Community to celebrate winter on the lake. At this free event, there will be lots of fun events for both kids and adults, with prizes including gift certificates, baked goods, and Lake Sarah Merchandise.
Lunch and activities begin at 12:00 Noon
Music begins at 2:00
Events include:
Live music
Hamburgers, hot dogs, hot chocolate, etc. Come hungry and have lunch made by our master grillers. Hamburgers are $5, hotdogs $3, drinks, condiments, and sides available.
Broom ball
Ice bowling
Ice skating
Ice Putt Putt
Tip-up ice fishing contest (small entry fee)
Join in on the Spring Ice Out contest (entry fee, results TBD in spring)
Outdoor Living Room with bonfire
Lots of games and activities for the kids
Winterfest Updates & Reminders:
Broomball sign ups start at Noon and teams will be formed from the sign ups. We will alternate broomball and open ice skating throughout the afternoon. Remember to bring a helmet, and if you have broom ball sticks, please bring them.
If having lunch or entering contests, Please remember to bring cash. Change will be available.
We are in need of baked goods for the Bake Sale. If you are able to donate a baked good for the party, please bring it to Winterfest. Thank you!
Some seating will be available, but If you want a chair to sit in, you will want to bring one.
We thank our Winterfest sponsors for their support and donations! Please remember their support when choosing where to eat out or visit a convenience store!
A family friendly restaurant located in downtown Loretto, Minnesota.
Your Local Convenience Store at the corner of Hwy 55 and CR 19. Stop in for gas, food, propane, bait & tackle.
A family friendly restaurant located in downtown Loretto, Minnesota.
2024 Ice Cream Social & Membership Meeting
The membership met to present and discuss a broad range of lake issues and acheivements at Shady Beach Circle. The board presented progress and updates to current programs, financial condition, and membership (minutes to follow). In addition to the meeting and ice cream, the boat parade winners were announced.
Congratulations to the Cady/Balinski Families as the overall Boat Parade winner this year with their “Olympic Spirit” float, and their amazing enthusiasm (See photos below). Second place went to “Alien Invasion” by the Sorensen Family, and third place went to “Fun Under Construction” by the Johnson Family. Thank you to all the participants and volunteers that made the event happen this year!
There was also a special award presented by the City of Independence, called the “Lake Stewardship Award”. On hand to present the award was Mayor Marvin Johnson, and our own Brad Spencer. For all of their hard, dirty work on the outlet this year, Steve Balinski, Scott Walsh, Joe Slavec, and Jon Arneson were awarded this recognition. Without their efforts monitoring and clearing the outlet of the lake, we would be in a no-wake situation and perhaps worse. We all as lakeshore owners benefited from the efforts directly. If you see one of them out and about, please take a moment to thank them for their volunteerism!
Lake Stewardship Award
Left to right: Brad Spencer, Joe Slavec, Jon Arneson, Steve Balinski, Scott Walsh, and Mayor Johnson
2024 4th of July Boat Parade
Uncle Sam - USA! The Vanyo Family
Aliens - The Sorensens
Fun Under Construction- The Johnsons
The Olympic Spirit - The Balinski/Cady Families
Really nice ski boat with a Flag - Dan Cady
The 2024 Boat Parade got off to a rough start this year. Weather shut down the parade on a soggy 4th of July. But that did not hold down these boat parade die-hards, that came out for the 2024 Boat Parade Redux on Saturday after the 4th. On hand were a group of pinch hitters to organize, and some really great floats.
You can see a larger image of the floats by clicking on the photos. Prizes will be awarded at the Annual Picnic on July 15th (Mark your calendars).
In the running:
The Vanos Family
The Johnson Family
The Balinski and Cady Families
The Sorensens
And a special thanks to the volunteers:
Sarah Evjen - Lead Organizer
Andrew Sorensen - Second Parade Organizer
Craig Hertog, Camren Blank, Scott Engle, & Alex Engle - Judges and Procession leads
Last but not least - Everyone that came out to watch and cheer us on!
We have rescheduled the 2024 Boat Parade for Saturday, July 6th, at 1:00 pm. Meet at the starting point, west basin at 1:50. Parade begins at 2:00 p.m. Join the procession, or watch the parade from your boat or dock. Contact us if you have any questions. See you there!
Parade Rout
2024 Spring Membership Meeting
The Lake Sarah Association held its annual spring membership meeting at Independence City Hall. Highlighted at the meeting:
Kicked off the membership drive
Announced our new website and its features
Provided an update to our Clean Water efforts for 2024
The introduction of our new logo, as well as the availability of our branded Lake Sarah Gear merchandise through our new website
The membership voted to have Joe Slavic manage our Fisheries Committee due to the resignation of our prior chair. Thank you Joe!
For 2024, dues were raised for the first time in memory by $10 to $45 because of the rising cost associated with the basic operation of the organization. The additional $10 will help to offset some of those higher costs.
Additionally, we are requesting a donation of $200 toward our Clean Water Fund in order to deliver lake wide weed control, phosphorous mitigation, required monitoring for weeds and invasive species. This amount is in line with past requests and keeps our programs operational for the benefit of our lake and the community.
Meeting minutes will be posted on the Meeting Minutes page as soon as available.
