Silver Lake Day Festival A Big Hit

Not only did members of the Silver Lake Fire Department win $200 in the bed race, they also won a bed pan as a trophy. From the left are Cade Krider, Gary Spratt, Addison Allen, Jacob Johnson and Kyle Martin.
The small town of Silver Lake was bustling with activity Saturday, June 17, as members of the community flocked to attend the annual Silver Lake Day Festival.
The festivities included a parade, which showcased familiar faces and talents and also honored citizens, especially those who have served in the military. Parade participants were given blue ribbons and a panel of judges gave trophies to winners in each category.
After the parade, festival goers lined the streets to watch the bed races in the very same spot.
Three teams went bed to bed to compete for a $200 prize. The Silver Lake Police Department, the Silver Lake Fire Department and a third group, made up entirely of women, raced up and down the street, stopping periodically to switch out who actually got to ride on the bed.
In the end, it was a close race between the two departments, but members of the fire department managed to take the lead, and the prize money, at the last second.
Among the fun activities, there was also a cornhole tournament, face paintings, inflatable obstacle courses, an antique car show and a bible story booth complete with furry friends.
A hog roast was held at the old fire station for lunch and treats like popcorn and elephant ears were available to snack on. An ice cream social helped beat the heat later on in the day.
Those who didn’t participate in the bed race or cornhole tournament still had a chance to show off their competitive sides with a game of bingo held in the Lion’s Building.
Once most of the festivities had finished, the band After Six played the night away in the downtown area.
- The Silver Lake Lions Club found a creative way to incorporate the club’s mascot into this years theme.
- This clown wowed the crowd during the parade while staying cool under the sun.
- Horses and their riders decked themselves out in patriotic attire as they moved through the parade.
- Grand Marshal Mike Sells greeted festival goers from the back of one of the several vintage cars on display.
- Motorcycle riders, like the Honor Guard Riders, attached flags to their bikes and took to the streets as well.
- Many groups and organizations walked and rode through the parade, like the Warsaw Community High School marching band.
- Parade participants also displayed their love of old fashioned cars to the crowd.
- Antique tractors like this one rolled through the streets of Silver Lake during the parade.
- Liza Aingood, the Indiana State Landrace Queen, smiled to the audience as she passed by in a white Mustang.
- This parade participant really embraced the railroad theme with a festive train float.