The annual Cross Lake Floatilla is set to return this Saturday, bringing with it a day of boating, entertainment, and charitable giving to the Shreveport area. Organizers are expecting favorable weather and a large turnout on the water and along the shoreline at the El Karubah Shrine Center, which is hosting the event for the second consecutive year.

Family-Friendly Event

While the Floatilla is known for its festive atmosphere on the water, organizers emphasize that it remains a family-friendly event. The party factor certainly does exist, but it is a family-friendly thing, said Eric Sullivan, a spokesman for the Cross Lake Floatilla board. People will have their kids on their boats. People have dogs on their boats. On land, with all the shade out here, it’s going to be a great place to spend the day.

Gates will open for parking at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Posting of the Colors is scheduled for 3 p.m., a boat parade will happen around 4 p.m., and a fireworks show will take place after dark. Parking costs $5 per vehicle, with additional fees for those bringing boat trailers.

The event continues its partnership with the El Karubah Shrine Center and the Shriners organization, while also serving as a fundraiser for local charitable causes. A big part of it is the benefit to El Karubah, Sullivan said. But the Floatilla is a bigger thing than even that. We have the Shriners Children’s Clinic here in town, and we support that. There are other local charities, too. Last year, this organization gave more than $20,000 to local charities, and we expect to do that and more again this year.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.