Memorial Day Kicks Off Summer Season

Memorial Day kicks off the iconic first weekend of the summer boating season on Lake Havasu as the waters swell with watercraft of all types as well as popups and people.

The three-day weekend scene in the Bridgewater Channel is a mixture of partying, barbeques and boat after boat of revelers.

Memorial weekend in the Bridgewater Channel in Lake Havasu City. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Boat activity on the lake is always extremely busy over the Memorial Day weekend and safety is cautioned.

Safety on the water isn’t the only watchword of the weekend. Increased traffic on the roadways also increases over the holiday and an ounce of caution and patience is encouraged.

In recognition of those who have fought and died to preserve the freedom of those who enjoy the weekend, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was celebrated following the Civil War when the war dead’s soldiers graves were “decorated” by women in local cemeteries in both the North and the South.

Always celebrated on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day was declared an official federal holiday in 1971.

Here is a photo gallery of the Bridgewater Channel over the Memorial Day weekend in Lake Havasu City.