Call for entrants as Float Your Boat returns to Lake Macquarie

newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council has opened expressions of interest for captains and crafters to take part in this year’s Float Your Boat, to be held on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 June 2026.

Returning competitor Megan Evans, whose light display ‘Yellow Submarine’ won last year’s Newcastle Permanent People’s Choice and Mayor’s Choice (5-10m), said the event had become a family tradition after years of watching from shore. “My parents have helped, my brother helps, and my sister-in-law and kids get involved as well, so on the night it’s very much a family boat and we take different people out each night,” Ms Evans said. “We watched Float Your Boat from the shore for a number of years while we had our young babies at home and as soon as they grew up, there was something special about Float Your Boat, so we decided to get in on the action. And now we’ve got the bug.”

Ms Evans urged first-timers to focus on visibility and simplicity. “I think you have to keep it bright, you have to keep it bold and you have to keep it simple,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be the biggest display on the water, but you have to make sure you can see it from the shore. It’s joyful, it’s creative, and there’s something really special about seeing all the lights on the shore in the nighttime.”

Fellow entrant Brad Farrar, who joined the flotilla for the first time last year, said the event was straightforward to take part in. “It’s not that hard, I think possibly anyone can do it,” he said. “You purchase all the bits and pieces online if you work with a soldering iron and a hot glue gun, a couple of cable ties – that’s all you really need. I would suggest you do the workshop at Empire Marina to get some ideas and hints on how to set it all up.”

Council is offering $600 for the first 20 entrants to assist with costs, as well as two free nights’ mooring at Empire Marina. Cash prizes include $1000 for the most popular light display, $600 for runner-up and $400 for third place in the Newcastle Permanent People’s Choice Award, while Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz will award $400 prizes to ‘Mayor’s Choice’ winners in the five to 10 metres and 10m plus categories. First-time entrants and boaties who refer a friend will also go in a draw for a two-night stay at a Lake Mac Holiday Park.

To be eligible, boats must be at least five metres long and capable of a minimum six knots per hour, and captains must be over 16 and hold a current RMS boat licence. Registrations of interest close Sunday 31 May 2026 via lakemac.com.au.