To celebrate the beginning of the 50th Anniversary of Lake Lanier, Friday, January 12, is Lake Lanier Day at the Atlanta Boat Show. Visitors to the Atlanta Boat Show can pick up free commemorative buttons featuring the colorful blue and yellow Lake Lanier 50 logo at three locations during the show -- The Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta, The US Army Corps of Engineers and Lakeside on Lanier/Lakeside News.

Prizes that will be awarded throughout the summer include T-shirts and boating products, along with gift certificates and other goodies. Beginning with Lake Lanier Day on Friday, January 12, 10,000 complimentary buttons -- limited to one per person -- will be distributed.

“To generate interest in the lake’s 50th anniversary, we’ve created ’50 Days for 50 Years’ at Lake Lanier and will be giving out random prizes to lake visitors who wear their buttons this summer,” said Vernita Loveridge with Westrec, a member of the Marina Operators of Lake Lanier, which is organizing the year-long celebration. “Our 50 days begins in mid-June and will culminate on National Marina Day – Saturday, August 11. During that time, we’ll have people on the lookout for lake visitors who celebrate this important milestone by wearing their commemorative buttons.”

Get Buttons, Win Big Prizes; Website Launches
After the boat show, Lake Lanier marinas and other anniversary partners will have calendars and flyers about the year’s events at their businesses. Buttons also will be available at each of the lake’s 10 marinas while supplies last.

A website – www.LakeLanier50.com -- will be launched by the middle of January dedicated to all things related to the lakes’ 50th Anniversary.

“The website will be updated often,” Loveridge said. “New contests, events and prizes are being added regularly, and we hope to be able to announce a grand prize contest by early February.”

Be Safe, Have Fun
Celebrations and events will take place throughout 2007. The 50 Days for 50 Years promotion provides a focal point for the lake’s anniversary at a time when the lake is its busiest – the three months of summer.

“This is also a great way to recognize and celebrate safe boating on Lake Lanier,” said Erwin Topper, honorary co-chairman of the celebration and former Project Engineer with the US Army Corps of Engineers. He is co-chairing the year-long celebration with Doug Beachem, whose father Jack Beachem opened Holiday Marina on July 4, 1957. “With everyone participating, the lake will be buzzing with excitement about this important milestone.”

A variety of partners are participating, including the lake’s marinas, the Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta, MarineMax, Lakeside on Lanier/Lakeside News and others. A complete list of sponsors will be listed on the website at www.LakeLanier50.com.