FERRIDAY — Whether for love of show or just the hope of future protection from above, area residents will be out boating Saturday.

The annual Lake St. John flotilla and blessing of the boats will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Those who wish to participate will pay a fee to enter, flotilla King Richard Alwood said.

The money will go to the flotilla committee, which will use it for charitable purposes and for lake upkeep, he said.

“This is not about money-making,” he said.

The blessing of the boats, to be performed by the Rev. Louis Sklar of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ferriday, is comparable to the blessing of the shrimp fleet in Morgan City, Alwood said.

Sklar will bless the boats and the people in them as they pass the dock at Tom Bell’s Lake St. John Grocery.

Judging will be split between patriotic and theme decorations. Decorating will begin at 11 a.m.

This year’s queen is Donna Maroon, a flotilla committee member for several years, and the grand marshal will be state Rep. Andy Anders.

To motivate participants to complete a full circuit of the lake, boats will be eligible for prizes when they pass certain docks, Alwood said.