[PinkFlamingo]

It's hard to beat the Chain of Lakes in Fox Lake, Illinois. Okauchee Lake is about 90 miles north and is fun but I still think the Chain wins. There's one main party sandbar and about 4 other ones to raft up on. Plus 48 bars/restaurants that you can pull up to on 10 lakes and 20 miles of river that are connected. And Blarney's Island which is a bar that is in the middle of the lake with live bands on the weekends and boat races on Thursday nights.

I host one of the larger boat parties in the Midwest each year. Last year we had about 40 boats that camped out Friday night to get good spots and 700+ in the bay the day of the party. The band the Swing Crew plays on top of the houseboat and the sandbar is about waist deep to party at.
Here's an ariel shot from 2005.
www.swingcrewparty.com/swingcrew2005/digital_file1_1991.jpg

[MN_Boater]

I've been to Blarney on Thursday nite... Also boated the chain around Mchenry IL. It can be off the hook... Have family in the area. Good Times...

[PinkFlamingo]

Blarney's has been a blast this year. When you have a bar with 15-20 urinals and there's a line for both the guys and the girls bathrooms you know it's packed.

Memorial Day Sunday night they had to leave 200 people on shore because the island was at capacity.

Only problem is they swung a deal with Bud to only carry Bud products so no Corona or Miller Lite.

Blarney Island - Babes, Bikinis, Bands, Boats and Beer!

[WtrFn7212]

SO where and when is the party you host?

[PinkFlamingo]

July 21st at the Lake Petite Sandbar.

Rodney's Swing Crew Lake Petit Boat Party has more info on it.

[WtrFn7212]

Ok I am def sold on wanting to go. However I still dont know excatly where it is. I know its on Fox Lake but Fox Lake is pretty big so I am sort of clueless where to launch at and park my truck. Also what time do I need to get there to get a good stop 8am?

Also have you ever made it to this one?
Chicago-Scene.com Boat Party

[PinkFlamingo]

The Chain is made up of several lakes. The party is on Petite Lake which is just north of Fox Lake through a small slow no wake. 8 a.m. would be the latest you would want to be there and even then you may be swimming in from the boat so a floating cooler helps.

Inland Harbor and Electric Harbor are both on the North end of Fox Lake but I honestly don't know what they have or if they allow launching.

Watts Marina is right on Hwy 12 on Pistakee Lake and is the largest launching spot on the chain. But then you have to go through Pistakee, under the Route 12 bridge, through Nippersink, and then across Fox to get to the party. Probably a 30 to 40 minute drive since you have 3 slow no wake areas.

There are lots of cops out that day so best to have a designated driver. Also the chain requires a user fee sticker and most launches will sell them there or you might be able to contact the Fox Waterway Agency and get it mailed ahead of time. Otherwise most offices at the launches aren't going to open until 8 and the ace hardware uptown sells them but I don't remember if they open at 7 or 8.

Never made it to the Chicago one. Can't trailer the houseboat and the little boat is way to small for out there. Looks like it could be a blast though.

[WtrFn7212]

Alright well I have the numbers for the inland and electric harbor I will call them a bit later. I alwso have my application for the user fees. I see on the map where Petite Lake is, so I guess I am all set then. Is there any places around that will let your rent a house or a slip for the night so I would not have to take the boat out of the water till sunday?

[PinkFlamingo]

How big is the boat? If you have a cuddy you can sleep at the sandbar or over at Captain's Quarters where we head to afterwards and the band plays there that night.

Watts Marina has transient slips for rent but it's a long drive back there after the party. Because of Country Thunder though I think all the motels in the area are full. There's not much to begin with.

There is a new bed and breakfast on the water though.
LakeHouseInn Home page

Now we will strickly be enforcing the no bottles rule at the sandbar so please respect that. When pulling up you will see the lines of boats already an it's best to make sure you have large fenders out and lines ready and ask the last person in line if you can park next to them and they should say yes. Last year by 7 is was pretty much a continuous line coming out of the slow no wake and over to the party so it was just follow the leader.