Fast Boats Compete For Top Honors During 31st Annual Lake Of The Ozarks Shootout

The 2019 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, America's largest and longest running powerboat race, returns to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, August 24 and 25.

This high-speed, action-packed fundraising event, which has been hailed as one of the "must-see boating events in the country" by Boating Magazine, has powerboats racing individually to see who can log the fastest speed and be crowned the overall "Top Gun."

"For anyone that likes boats or boating, you don't want to miss the Shootout," says Ron Duggan, Shootout coordinator and owner of Captain Ron's Bar and Grill. "At the Shootout you'll see every type of boat imaginable and it's a thrilling and exciting event. You have some of the fastest boats in the world captained by some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The racers are so generous with their time and they love taking photos with the spectators and talking about and showing off their boats. It's a lot of fun for everyone. I don't think there's anything like the Shootout in the entire country."

Throughout the racing weekend, over 100,000 spectators turn out to watch these powerful vessels top out at speeds of over 200 miles per hour along the race course near Captain Ron's Bar and Grill, 82 Aloha Road in Sunrise Beach or at the 34.5 mile marker by water. The competitive field features roughly 100 boats competing in over 60 different race divisions, including professional, non-professional and manufacturer classes, among others.

American Ethanol is the reigning Shootout champion, claiming the Top Gun title the last four years running. In 2018, American Ethanol won with a speed of 204 miles per hour. Spectators and racers alike will be eager to see if American Ethanol will extend their winning streak and break the long-standing fastest-ever time logged at the Shootout of 244 miles per hour set by the Spirit of Qatar in 2014.

The Shootout races get underway on Saturday, Aug. 24 with personal water craft races from 9:30-10:00 a.m., followed by the official opening ceremonies and national anthem at 9:45 a.m. The powerboat races begin after the national anthem and continue until 4 p.m. In addition to the races, there will be other special events throughout the races such as acrobatic aerial performances by Brian Correll during the Shootout Airshow. From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m, there will be a vendor village selling various goods and souvenirs as well as a racing village with the latest in performance engines and boating accessories on display. Between the two villages, the public can visit over 60 different exhibitors. Captain Ron's also hosts live musical entertainment on Saturday with performances by I-70 Overdrive from 2-6 p.m., followed by Members Only from 8 p.m. until midnight. Inside at Captain Ron's, DJ Kyle will pump out the jams from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 25, the villages open at 9 a.m. and the high-speed action picks up with races taking place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The presentation of the 2019 "Top Gun" honors will take place during the awards ceremony at 4 p.m. at Captain Ron's.

Those that can't make it to the Lake of the Ozarks to watch the races in person have several opportunities to keep up with the action. New for 2019, the Shootout races will be broadcast with unparalleled high-definition quality across multiple stations throughout Missouri and online as well. According to Denny Benne, owner of Benne Media Group, the expanded coverage and quality of the production will help raise the profile of the Shootout and the Lake of the Ozarks across the state. "We have a great production team assembled that has worked with CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox. We're very excited to be able to take the broadcast to a new level," says Benne. "Since this is a charity event, we want to reach more viewers and listeners than ever before. And, our goal is to give viewers an incredible product to enjoy." The Shootout will be carried in St. Louis on KPLR 11, in Kansas City on KMCI TV and in Springfield on KY3. Additionally, the races will be broadcast live on the local cable and streaming networks of LakeTV, CoMo Connect, Lake Expo, Fidelity TV, Facebook and ROKU. On radio, the Shootout will be broadcast on COOL 102.7 FM around the Lake of the Ozarks.

While the weekend's races draw the biggest crowds, there are many Shootout events leading up to the high-octane weekend. Other events and activities include the Mini Shootout the weekend of August 16 and 17, featuring remote-controlled race boats that reach speeds upwards of 120 miles per hour near the springs of Ha Ha Tonka State Park; the "Run What Ya Brung" Poker Run takes place throughout the day on Friday, Aug. 16; a Shootout Treasure Hunt on Monday, Aug. 19 in the sandy beaches at Captain Ron's; the Shootout Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at Cannon Smoked Saloon in Sunrise Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 20; and the Float Your Boat contest where participants build the most sea-worthy vessels exclusively out of cardboard and duct tape on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Race fans will have the opportunity to check out these impressive speed machines up close and in-person during the popular "Shootout on the Strip" meet and greet party along the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 21. This street party runs from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and is a great way to meet the captains and crews of each participating vessel and take in incredible engineering behind the participating powerboats. There also will be fun and entertaining activities for children.

One of the highlights of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is the Wishing On A Ride program. For this event, powerboat captains donate their time to give special powerboat rides to over 150 children and adults from around the state with disabilities and/or serious medical conditions. Wishing On A Ride takes place from 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18 at Redhead Yacht Club and Marina and Performance Boat Center in Osage Beach and again on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Dock Three at Captain Ron's. This program is sponsored by the Missouri-Kansas Make a Wish Foundation, Oak Star Bank and Shore Magazine.

"It's an amazing event," says Tiffany Maasen, the organizer of Wishing on a Ride. "We're able to help 'Make a Wish kids' break out of their day-to-day routine of doctor appointments and medical treatments by giving them a special experience. It's something remarkable and fun that not only the kids get to enjoy but their families, too. They get to enjoy it together and it's just awesome. It's incredible how everyone comes together - from our sponsors to the host families, local resorts and the boat drivers - to ensure our Wishing on a Ride families have the most wonderful time at the Lake of the Ozarks. It means so much to these families and the joy it brings them is priceless."

While the Shootout is one of the most popular summer events at the Lake of the Ozarks, it also has the distinction of being one of the most successful fundraisers for the Lake area. Last year, the Shootout donated over $300,000 to 32 local charities and eight fire departments. Since Captain Ron's began hosting the Shootout in 2008, the event has generated nearly $1.5 million dollars for local Lake of the Ozarks charities.

For complete details on the 2019 Shootout, including information on lodging and parking as well as a full schedule of  activities , visit www.LakeOfTheOzarksShootout.com.  

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Paddle Around Lake of The Ozarks for On-The-Water Fun!

For many people that enjoy spending time outdoors, nothing says summertime like a leisurely paddle on the various and celebrated Ozark waterways. At Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, visitors can take their time exploring spring-fed tributaries as well as slow and secluded coves from paddleboards, kayaks, canoes or paddle boats.

While Lake of the Ozarks is regarded as one of the best boating and fishing lakes in the country, there are many other ways to have fun on the water, especially when it comes to paddling sports.

One of the many reasons the Lake of the Ozarks has been designated the "Best Recreational Lake in the Nation" is because it caters to paddlers of all types. The newest paddling sport to hit the Lake of the Ozarks is stand-up paddleboarding. Visitors of any skill level, from first-timers to the most seasoned pros, can get their paddles wet at a number of resorts, marinas and paddle-specific businesses.

"What makes the Lake of the Ozarks such a great paddling destination is that there are so many different coves," says Dave Bertels, co-owner of Super Dave's Paddle Craft Adventures in Sunrise Beach. "There are many opportunities for paddlers to duck into different coves where the water is super smooth and paddle around and explore the unique scenery. And, on sunny days, it's nice to be able to run along the cliff faces to stay in the shade. You can dip in the water to cool down and then keep paddling. You don't always get those opportunities on different lakes or with different paddle craft."

For those wanting to learn how to paddleboard, the Lake of the Ozarks is a great place to start. There are a handful of businesses that not only rent paddleboards but also provide lessons for those new to the sport.  Super Dave's Paddle Craft Adventures in Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach Resort's Adventure Boat Rentals in Camdenton and Wake Effects in Osage Beach all  make sure to set every guest up for success. Each paddleboard rental comes with personalized instructions for those that need it on how to safely and successfully get on the board, stand up on the board, how to paddle efficiently and how to control the board before vacationers make their way out into the quiet cove s to enjoy their newly acquired skill . Lessons can take anywhere from five to 15 minutes depending upon the customer, and, extra assistance and coaching are provided if necessary.

"The difference between an incredible day out on the water with a paddleboard and a really

frustrating one can be as simple as spending a few minutes to get comfortable with the board and having someone with experience show you what to do," says Bertels, who has taught nearly 15,000 people to paddleboard at the Lake of the Ozarks. "A little bit of quality instruction makes all the difference. Most people catch on really quickly and there's no slowing them down after that. They get it and then they're hooked. Helping people fall in love with paddleboarding is the best part of the job for me," Bertels concludes.

Anyone looking to take their paddleboard experience to another level can try Wake Effects' different paddleboard-based yoga and fitness classes, including an introductory class that teaches both how to paddleboard as well as how to do yoga on a paddleboard. For more details on Wake Effects' paddleboard yoga and fitness classes, visit   wakeeffects.com/paddle-rentals-sports/.

Of course, there are a variety of options for those more interested in kayaking or canoeing as well. In addition to the three businesses mentioned above, there are numerous places that help visitors get out on the water in a self-propelled fashion.

Mother Nature's River Retreat in Mack's Creek offers three options for scenic canoe floats down the Big Niangua River, one of the Lake of the Ozarks' spring-fed tributaries: a three-mile, four-mile or seven-mile float. Shuttle services also are available.

The area's two celebrated state parks offer kayak rentals and outstanding locations to paddle around. Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri's largest and most visited state park, offers kayak, paddleboard and paddleboat rentals at the marina located at Public Beach #1 in Osage Beach. Once vacationers have their paddle craft, they can launch their vessels and spend the day exploring the park's Aquatic Trail, a nearly 10-mile stretch of water that runs from Grand Glaize Beach to the park's main campground. Buoys are placed at various Lake locations to mark this unique water trail and a  special corresponding Aquatic Trail interpretive map provides information about what boaters see at each stop. The diversity of the park and its natural communities are showcased with stops to view woodlands, glades, streams and geological structures. Boaters can learn how swallows use the bluffs in the park, how chert is formed and why glades are being lost to cedar invasion. The Aquatic Trail map is available at various locations in the park and is recommended before embarking on this on-the-water adventure.

At Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton, which was voted one of the best state parks in the nation by readers of USA Today, visitors can rent single or tandem kayaks from the park's visitor center. The park features launches and wonderful paddling opportunities at the Ha Ha Tonka Cove near Ha Ha Tonka Spring, Missouri's 12th largest natural spring. Paddlers can take in impressive views of the towering limestone bluffs as well as cool, clear blue waters of the spring. The cool, spring-fed water in the cove at Ha Ha Tonka is a popular spot for swimmers and paddlers at the Lake of the Ozarks.

All paddle craft rentals are generally based on an hourly rate, though some marinas and businesses offer half-day, full-day or weekly rates. Prices vary from business to business, so visitors may want to call ahead to check on prices and availability of rentals.

In addition to all the places mentioned above, many Lake of the Ozarks resorts rent a variety of watercraft for a fun day (or days) out on the water. Some even offer complimentary use of paddle craft for their guests. Visitors should check with the lodging properties of their choice to see what kind of vessels are available for their use. 

For a getaway of any length to the Lake of the Ozarks, the accommodations available are as varied as the shoreline around the Lake. Visitors will find full-service, luxury resorts; smaller, family-owned and operated resorts; spacious, multi-bedroom condominiums and vacation homes; charming bed and breakfasts; rustic cabins, campgrounds and RV parks in addition to well-known hotels and motels.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Live Music & On-The-Water Fun The Centerpieces of Aquapalooza 2019

AquaPalooza, the Lake of the Ozarks' one-day on-the-water music festival, returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on Saturday, July 20. 

There's a reason AquaPalooza is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest family-friendly summer
concert event each year; it combines many of the best things about the area, like on-the-water fun, live music, boating, swimming and great food and drinks.

Now entering its 14th year, AquaPalooza brings out about 1,000 boats and roughly 10,000 people to Dog Days Bar & Grill, 1232 Jeffries Road in Osage Beach or by water at the 19 mile-marker, for a day of fun and musical entertainment.

"We're proud to have continued AquaPalooza throughout the years and our goal is to make it better every year," says Denny Benne, owner of Benne Media and one of the event's organizers.  "I think this year's lineup is one of the best we've ever had. As AquaPalooza
gains more and more national exposure, we're able to attract bigger bands. It's going to be a great event and I look forward to seeing everyone July 20."

Sponsored by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association and presented by Benne Media, AquaPalooza is open to the public and free to attend. The festivities get underway at 12 noon and run until 5 p.m. and include live music performed on Dog Days' outdoor stage by four different bands as well as games, contests along with prizes.

The musical lineup for 2019 includes Dirt Road Addiction, a country-rock band hailing from Sedalia, Mo.; Machine Gun Symphony, an '80s-themed hair metal cover band that counts AC/DC, Guns 'n Roses and Def Leppard among their influences; the Nashville-based Chris Weaver Band, whose sound combines southern rock, soul and bluesy country rock; and Superjam, a popular party band from St. Louis that plays the biggest hits from the '70s and '80s.

Although the action doesn't officially get started until noon, many boats start lining up in the water in front of Dog Days in the morning to claim optimal viewing points for the afternoon's concerts. Come time for the fun to begin, a large, colorful fleet of boats and floats and tubes dot the immediate vicinity of the stage area.

In addition to the music, games and contests, attendees of AquaPalooza also take advantage of Dog Days' two swimming pools, family-friendly areas, swim-up bars, delicious food and cold drinks, making for a full day of fun and entertainment at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Complete details for AquaPalooza 2019 and a list of sponsoring entities can be found at

FunLake.com/aquapalooza.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Live Music Takes Center Stage At The Lake Of The Ozarks This Summer

For great times and great bands, there's no better place than Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks this summer.

On any given day during the summer months, visitors will have no trouble finding live music at nearly any of the 200 restaurants and nightspots as well as the area's most popular resorts and entertainment complexes at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation. Many venues around the Lake of the Ozarks feature up-and-coming local musicians as well as bigger names in the business. What's better than enjoying some delicious food, refreshing beverages, stunning Lakeside scenery and toe-tapping tunes with friends or family?

For those hoping to catch some of their all-time favorite performers, two of the Lake of the Ozark's largest outdoor music venues host many of the biggest names in the recording industry during their summer concert series. These shows alone are worth planning a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.

Shawnee Bluff Vineyard, located off Highway 54 at 8 Tolwood Road between Eldon and Lake Ozark, features an outdoor wine garden and amphitheater set on 40 acres of rolling hills overlooking the winery's vineyard. Each summer Shawnee Bluff hosts a fine selection of country music's brightest stars. 

The month of June brings  Diamond Rio to the stage on Friday, June 14 to play their biggest hits "One More Time," "Meet in the Middle," and "Norma Jean Riley," which all spent time on the top of the country charts in the '90s. Saturday, June 29 sees  Craig Morgan, who has had 17 hits make the Billboard country charts, take to the Shawnee Bluff stage. 

July brings Missouri-born songstress Sara Evans to perform on Saturday, July 6 while Wynonna and The Big Noise, featuring Wynonna Judd - half of country music's biggest hit making mother-daughter duo, The Judds - will entertain crowds on Saturday, July 20. To close out the month, Trace Adkins brings his soulful country grooves to the vineyard on Friday, July 26. 

September offers a little bit more of a musical mix with Clint Black, one of the best-selling country music artists of all time, playing on Saturday, Sept. 7 followed by a performance by an up-and-coming Missouri-born country star, Tyler Farr, on Friday, Sept. 13. Southern rock giants38 Special closes out September with a high-energy rock show on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

The Shawnee Bluff Vineyard concert series concludes with a performance by Grammy-winners  The Oak Ridge Boys on Friday, October 11.

All of the shows at Shawnee Bluff Vineyard are billed as being all-ages shows. Doors open at 5 p.m. with live music being performed by local musicians on the patio from 5-7 p.m. to start the evening. Headliners take the stage at 8 p.m. during each concert, with professional fireworks displays to follow most performances at the close of the evening. Depending on the show, tickets start at $39 per person. For more details on the performers, or to order tickets, either call  573-365-1100 or visit   www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com/concerts/.

Shawnee Bluff's second location, Shawnee Bluff Winery, located on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, features live music every weekend throughout the year. For more information on both locations - the Vineyard and the Winery - as well as a full events calendar, visit  www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com.

Ozarks Amphitheater, located at  2629 North Business Route 5 near Camdenton, is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest outdoor music venue. Voted the best large outdoor music venue in the state by readers of Missouri Magazine, Ozark Amphitheater's fifth annual summer concert series starts off with a bang with the Outlaws and Renegades Tour on Friday, June 7. The Outlaws and Renegades Tour features Travis Tritt, who has seven platinum-selling albums and two Grammys to his name, the legendary Charlie Daniels Band, best known for his  Grammy-winning smash hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and up-and-coming southern rockers The Cadillac Three. On Sunday, June 9, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Missouri Symphony Orchestra for a "Hot Summer Nights" community concert called "Strike Up the Band." Nashville-based country music band Old Dominion, whose most recent album "Happy Endings" landed as the number one album on the Billboard Country charts, plays the amphitheater on Saturday, June 22 along with special guests Granger Smith and Murphy's Ford. St. Louis-born rapper Nelly, who won a Grammy in 2004 and whose first two albums reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts, plays with fellow St. Louisian Chingy on Friday, June 28. And, on Saturday, June 29, award-winning country music star Gary Allan takes to the amphitheater's stage.

In July, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Grammy-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for their hit "Fishin' in the Dark," and the southern rock sounds of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, famous for their hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Want to Get to Heaven," on Saturday, July 6. Five Finger Death Punch, one of the most successful heavy metal rock bands of the 2000s, plays on Tuesday, July 16. August heats up as award-winning rapper Wiz Khalifa entertains the crowds at Ozarks Amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 2. The much anticipated Crossover Christian Music Festival returns Friday through Monday, Sept. 20-23. There are more concerts to be announced, so it's recommended that visitors keep an eye on the Ozarks Amphitheater website, www.OzarksAmp.com, or Facebook page.

For most shows at the amphitheater, doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Depending on the artist, tickets for each show run from $20 per person general admission up to $600 for VIP table seating.  For more information on the 10,000-seat Ozarks Amphitheater, or to order tickets for the upcoming concert series, please call 573-346-0000 or visit www.OzarksAmp.com . 

The Horny Toad Entertainment Complex at Camden on the Lake Resort, 2359 Bittersweet Road in Lake Ozark. The Horny Toad has been a summertime live music staple at the Lake of the Ozarks for years and has hosted big names such as Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Quiet Riot and Bret Michaels in the past. This summer, the Horny Toad features local and regional favorites on their lakeside outdoor stage every weekend beginning Friday, May 17. For more details on the calendar of events at the Horny Toad, visit www.HToads.com or call 573-365-5620.

Aquapalooza, The Lake's largest family boating and concert event on the water returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on July 20th. This year's one day line-up includes regional favorites Dirt Road Addiction, Machine Gun Symphony, Chris Weaver Band and Super Jam; All starting at 12 p.m. noon and going until 5 p.m. Visit www.funlake.com/aquapalooza for more information. Aquapalooza is a Benne Media production. 

And that's not all! To find more live music taking place around the Lake this summer, visitors should head to the event calendar at www.FunLake.com or check the websites or Facebook pages of their favorite restaurants, bars and other venues.

For those looking to make a vacation out of their concert experiences, there is a wide selection of accommodations available at the Lake of the Ozarks. Visitors can choose from full-service luxury resorts, family-owned resorts, charming bed and breakfasts, rustic cabins, campgrounds and RV parks, spacious vacation rental homes and condominiums, as well as hotels and motels.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).