Saturday, July 25th, 2026
Liberty on the Lake
From staff reports
Photo by Jerry Martin/The Daily Standard
The International Amphicar Owners Club commemorated its 28th year at Lake Festival Friday night with a long line of the amphibious vehicles splashing in at the Lakeshore Park Hot Water Hole. Festival organizers said there were about 50 Amphicars from all parts of the country in Celina this weekend for what has become a traditional gathering. This year's fleet haled from as nearby as Delphos and as far away as Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois and Alaska.
Celina Lake Festival kicked off Friday evening with an opening ceremony and the annual amphicar splash into Grand Lake. Festival organizers say about 50 cars belonging to members of the International Amphicar Owners Club are in town for this year's event.
The festival, set for Friday-Sunday, will pay tribute to Celina's defining feature - the man-made, 13,500-acre Grand Lake - and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Photo by Jerry Martin/The Daily Standard
Local kids lined up to meet Miss Lake Festival Caitlyn Nuding and Miss Lake Festival's Teen Alika Bridge during Friday night's opening ceremonies.
The Grand Parade is set for 6:30 p.m. today, with area veterans selected as the 2026 Grand Parade Marshals. Participants were encouraged to style their floats to reflect the "Liberty on the Lake" theme.
Festival highlights will include: downtown merchant sidewalk sales 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today; water ski performances from Ski Extreme Productions at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. today and 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday; a series of live music acts at the entertainment tent; carnival rides; and a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday at the community tent.
Photo by Jerry Martin/The Daily Standard
Manufactured in West Germany from 1961 to 1968, the Amphicars are capable of traversing both land and water, and are moved in the water by twin nylon propellers. The Amphicar is the only civilian amphibious passenger automobile ever to be mass produced, with a total production of less than 3,900.
Troops in Town will also be presenting three live battle reenactments Saturday at Harbor Point State Park and the 4-H camp. American Legion Post 210 in Celina will provide free parking and shuttles. Visit Troops in Town on Facebook for details.
More festival information and a full schedule is available at
celinalakefest.com.
