Boo Bash on Logan Martin

The hits just keep coming

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted Photos

If Boo Bash on Logan Martin were a song, it would top the charts year after year.

You would think one year could not outdo the one that came before it, but you’d be wrong. More imagination. More creativity. More smiles and laughter all around – that’s Boo Bash in perfect pitch once again.

October’s edition was threatened by severe weather for days leading up to the Saturday event, but Mother Nature apparently didn’t want to disappoint, and the rains held off. Organizers adjusted the hours, and it was smooth sailing from there.

This dock-to-dock trick-or-treating by boat and on land at Lakeside Park’s “Boo Slough” launched four years ago when Pell City lakeside residents Sonya Hubbard and Kelli Lasseter turned a ‘what if’ into a ‘must have.’

From its fledgling beginning with a few boats and Boo Stops (decorated docks) with treats distributed for kids, adults and pets, it was well on its way to one of the most anticipated events on the lake.

It draws not only the lake community together, it lures Boo Bashers from all over the region to Logan Martin – even from out of state. It attracts TV, newspaper and magazine coverage.  And revelers fill Facebook and Instagram pages with post-Boo Bash photos and videos recounting one heck of a good time.

“Boo Bashers have rated us 4.9 stars so far,” said Lasseter the day after. They track the feedback through surveys to improve year after year.

  By the numbers, registered boats were at 199, but it is estimated 225 took part with over 1,500 Boo Bashers on board. There were 73 registered pier hosts – Boo Stops – but more participated without registering.

“On average, there were 5 adults, 3 children and 1 pet per boat. We call them our Boo Bashers,” Lasseter said. “The total numbers registered were 925 adults, 600 kids, and 125 pets. These are about the same as 2024 numbers when Boo was held on Saturday. Last year’s numbers far exceeded this year’s, but this year was probably the best event yet.”

The northern most point in Ragland more than tripled the number of boats they saw last year, and “our overall participation from registered Boo Stops in that area quadrupled,” she added. “Angler’s Pointe was a big reason plus Blue i Bistro and Bikini Buddy sponsoring host piers at Fireball Flats.”

Sponsorships grew this year, raising money to benefit Logan Martin Lake Protection Association and its lighted buoy placement program that has seen more than 100 lighted buoys and bridge marker reflectors installed to make the lake a safer place. 

And when the day was done, the after party at The Tiki Hut drew huge crowds for the awarding of trophies provided by Angela Henson of Bikini Buddy.

And the winners in Boat Decorating are:

  • Under the Sea – Best Theme Boo Cruiser
  • Logan Martin Graveyard of Scallywags (Pirate Ship) – Best Full Deck Spectacle Boo Cruiser
  • Grease – Best Crew Boo Cruiser
  • Nauti Tiki – Most Creative Boo Cruiser
  • Waffle House – Honorable Mention

Winners in dock decorating by region were:

  • Lower Lake – Davey Jones’ Locker, winner, Fear the Pier/The Zoomies, runner-up
  • Middle Lake – Little Dock of Horrors, winne, Welcome to Whoville, runner-up
  • Upper Lake – Have No Fear – The Superheroes are Here, winner, Andy’s Toy Dock and Dead Ball, runners-up

Good people doing good things

Sometimes, the hardest part of my work is coming up with an idea for this column – a theme. But this month, as I looked over the story list for this edition, the answer was as easy as understanding the joy in another day on the lake.

It’s more than the water. It’s good people doing good things all around us.

We see it in every corner, especially now, as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays draw near.

In October, we saw an entire lake community come together on Logan Martin to celebrate the fourth edition of Boo Bash, which could be described as a fun, festive, on water, off water good time up and down the lake.

Out on the water, it’s dock-to-dock trick-or-treating for the kids. It’s adult treats for the not so youthful. There’s even treats for our four-footed friends. It’s costumed boats arriving at fully decorated Boo Stop docks.

But it’s also non-stop fun in Lakeside Park for those coming by land. Treats, rides, costumes galore and a sense of community unrivaled around these parts all thanks to good people doing good things. People like Kelli Lasseter and Sonya Hubbard, who gave birth to the idea and then rolled up their sleeves to make it happen.

It’s people like Neal Stephenson and the good folks at Logan Martin Lake Protection Association who pushed their sleeves up, too, and joined the effort. Or people like presenters and sponsors who anted up, not only to make it happen but to provide much needed funding for projects to make the lake a safer place.

Good people doing good things is not unique. It’s contagious. Take the efforts going on in Gadsden around Neely Henry these days – all aimed at bringing community together. How about an ice skating and bumper car rink overlooking the Coosa this holiday season? Or the lighting of the tallest Christmas tree in the state. Or, the holiday lights illuminating Noccalula Falls.

In Pell City, businesses, organizations and individuals come together for Lights in the Park, their holiday spirit shining the community throughout the season. And Talladega brings its spirit to the heart of the city with Christmas on the Square and the longest Christmas Parade in the region.

Oxford’s Festival of Lights draws crowds from all over to bask in its drive-through light show or pay a visit to Santa’s Village, all of which transform Choccolocco Park into a winter wonderland.

Then there’s the Pell City Rotary Jingle Bell Run, a 5K, 10K and 1-Mile Fun Run Walk, raising tens of thousands of dollars for worthy causes like this year’s effort to build an impressive working garden and outdoor patio, flower gardens and water feature for veterans to enjoy the outdoors at the state veterans home. It’s a tangible way to say thank you for your service.

And our hats are off to WinSouth Credit Union for its investment in youth fishing by becoming the Official Financial Partner of Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association, giving young people an opportunity to compete and develop leadership, teamwork and responsibility skills.

Of course, there’s more, but it all still points back to a single premise: Good people doing good things. It’s why we are lucky to call this region home.

That’s what this edition of LakeLife 24/7 is all about. Turn the page and discover all the ‘good things’ with us! 

Carol Pappas
Editor and Publisher