Celebrate Summer on the Water at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

Hit a summer celebration high-water mark with AquaPalooza, the Lake's largest family-fun boating party, July 21 at Dog Days Bar & Grill (on land at 1232 Jeffries Road or the 19 mile marker on the water) in Osage Beach. Experience a free, live concert with four bands (including Australian country-music trio The McClymonts and AC/DC tribute band Hells Bells), contests, games, T-shirt giveaways, a live radio broadcast and special promotions throughout the day. Bring your family, your friends and float on the water in a boat, raft or tube. Or if you're a land lover, enjoy AquaPalooza with your crew inside the cool and dry comfort of Dog Days Bar & Grill. Admission is free. AquaPalooza 2012 is sponsored by Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, Budweiser, Benne Media and Dog Days Bar & Grill. For more information, visit LOMDABoats.com, text "BOAT" to 22828, or call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Wine and beer aficionados, unite and sample the works of some of Missouri's best wineries and breweries at the Midwest Wine and Brew Festival on Aug. 11. The event is presented by the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Country Club Hotel & Spa in Lake Ozark. Over a dozen wineries and microbreweries will have their wares on display to sample and purchase. Lake-area restaurants also will be on hand to offer light fare as a perfect complement to the wine and brew samples. Festival advance tickets are available for $15 and will include a tasting of all of the wines and beers, as well as a souvenir wine glass. Tickets bought the day of the festival are $20. For more information, call the Lake Area Chamber at 573-964-1008.

Your boat is welcome at the Lake of the Ozarks! Speedboats, fishing boats, pontoon boats and personal watercraft are all ways to have some relaxing summer fun at one of Missouri's largest lakes. There are nine public access boat ramps available for use at the Lake and if you're staying the night, most of the area's lodging facilities have their own boat docks. Don't have a boat? Don't worry. Watercraft can be rented by the hour or the day at most of the Lake of the Ozarks' resorts or marinas. For more about how to get out on the water or for a list of hotels and resorts with boat docks, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Bureau's website, FunLake.com.

If one has the need for speed, there will be as much velocity as a fan of the throttle can handle at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, Aug. 25-26 at Captain Ron's Bar & Grill in Sunrise Beach. The event features more than 100 boats competing to be named the lake's fastest boat, racing against the clock in individual runs. Last year, Bill Tomlinson and Ken Kehoe captured the event's "Top Gun" title and electrified the crowd with a course record-tying speed of 208 mph. The timed runs take two days to complete and are the unquestioned Main Event, but the Shootout festivities stretch over nine days including a variety of activities for the whole family. Among this year's events during the week-plus of revelry are: a Class One R/C Mini Shootout for remote controlled boats (Aug. 18), a benefit golf tournament (Aug. 19), The Great Shootout Treasure Hunt (Aug. 20), The Shootout Street Party (Aug. 22), The PWC Dam Run (Aug. 23), a poker run (Aug. 24) and much more fun for fans of all ages. For more information about the Shootout and for a full schedule of Shootout-related events, visit LakeoftheOzarksShootout.org.

Summer is loaded with fun fairs, festivals and events at the Lake of the Ozarks! For more information about getaway packages, lodging, dining, shopping, events and attractions throughout the Lake area, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Bureau's website, FunLake.com.

July 13, August 10 & September 14

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS

Hot Summer Nights, a cruising series on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, will feature all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visitors attending the event will enjoy classic cars, trucks and motorcycles, contests, giveaways, helicopter rides, live entertainment and much more. For more information about Hot Summer Nights, call 573-964-1008 or visit CruiseHotSummerNights.com.

August 4

The GREAT BAGNELL DAM DUCK DROP

# # #