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By MICHAEL T. BURKHART
Courier-Post Staff
MEDFORD LAKES
The annual Canoe Carnival, which celebrated its 71st anniversary this month, should live on for at least another 71 years, according to participants and borough officials.
"I think it will still be going strong," said Tom Paradise, carnival co-chairman. "It continues to be replenished with new blood. But there are also a lot of old- timers still around."
The modern-day Canoe Carnival got its start as Venetian Nights on Aug. 11, 1928 with 15 floats built on canoes and lit by kerosene lamps. Today, the floats are still paddled around Lower Aetna Lake, but the fancy machinery is powered by gasoline generators and lit by high-intensity vapor lights.
It has been held on Lower Aetna Lake every year since 1928, except for cancellations from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. Though records are incomplete, float entries apparently reached a high of 42 in 1939 and a low of 12 in 1929. This year there were 19 entries.
Greg and Elaine Reinhardt, along with friends and neighbors, have entered a float each of the last 23 years. Planning starts with a dinner meeting in the spring, where ideas are tossed around and debated.
"We're always thinking about it during the year," said Greg Reinhardt of Comanche Trail.
The group is known as the Dry Docks and their 40-foot long "Boogie Woogie Choo Choo" float took a first prize this year. The train was decked out with huge marionette dolls, smoke that spewed from the locomotive's stack and turning wheels.
Reinhardt sees a secure future for Canoe Carnival.
"(Participation) has gone down and come back up," he said. "Recently, we've had new float groups every year."
A few years ago, the Colony wanted to get more people - especially younger ones - involved in the tradition. A mentor program was created where younger people can go to the older ones for help. Among the other newcomers are the Scrub Pines, who have routinely won top prizes at the festival in recent years.
Some groups take a year off from float building, but usually come back, said Tim Casey, a borough councilman and member of the Lions Club, which enters a float annually.
"It's too good a thing not to perpetuate," Casey said. "It' s one of the great traditions of the town."
Reach Michael T. Burkhart at (856) 486-2474 or mburkhart@courierpostonline.com
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