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Taylor McCarthy is gonna need a bigger boat for all the snacks she’s preparing for more than 40 guests invited to her third annual fish party in celebration of Sylvan Lake’s Jaws at the Lake.
“It’s an excuse to dress up and get together,” says the 23-year-old who grew up in the lakeshore community about 160 kilometres south of Edmonton.
Jaws at the Lake is on today. The free event launched in 2017 in the town of 18,000.
It offers moviegoers the chance to watch the classic 1975 film Jaws on a giant dual-sided screen perched on the picturesque shore at 9 a.m. as the sun begins to set.
There’s also a sea-themed cartoon feature at 6:30 p.m. where people can watch from the land or the water.
Special outdoor screening of Jaws taking place in Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake, which is located about 160 kilometres south of Edmonton, is offering moviegoers the chance to watch a classic 1970s thriller on a big screen perched on the town’s picturesque shore while bobbing in the water. Turns out it’s not the only interesting thing about this community.
According to Sylvan Lake Tourism the town’s tradition draws more than 1,000 visitors and is one of their biggest events of the year filling local hotels and eateries. This year CBC will be at the event and share a collection of stories from the community.
As a kid McCarthy grew up attending every year “but of course, as you get a little bit older you kind of drift apart from friends.”
This event is a way of reconnecting with high school buddies now that she’s studying to be an ophthalmologist.
McCarthy says it’s also become an “obsession” thrifting for water-theme jewelry and clothes and curating the food and drinks for the fish party.
This year’s menu includes “croissant sandwiches with little googly eyes that look like crabs and nautical named drinks like the Drunken Dory” all leading to the main movie watching event.
People floating in Sylvan Lake for the Jaws at the Lake event in 2024 waiting for the movie to start. (Submitted by Visit Sylvan Lake)
“It’s kind of scary, being right on the water, but also kind of fun,” and she says “you always have to get down here very early to put down a lawn chair.”
Dave Pullar and his family have decided to watch from shore this year but in the past they’ve taken their boat over.
“We put the anchor down and we wait for the movie to come out and it’s fantastic,” says the 62-year-old who’s family has a long connection to the area.
His great-grandfather, William Jarvis, chose Sylvan Lake as the spot to homestead, building one of the first log cabins in 1904.
Now Pullar considers himself a “steward of the land” having seen six generations enjoy the bay bearing his family’s name.
Karen Brown, far right, chats with her brother Dave Pullar seated next to his golden retriever Dinarii and wife Brenda Pullar at their property on Jarvis Bay on Sylvan Lake. (Adrienne Lamb/CBC)
“This lake means everything to me. My heart and soul are here,” and Pullar says summer events like Jaws at the Lake draw even more people into the area.
“It’s just one of those unique, interesting things the town of Sylvan Lake does that adds vibrancy to the community.”
Mayor Megan Hanson says the lake is a “piece of paradise” that is all about quality family time.
“I don’t think many places allow you to carve that out these days,” she says.
Hanson says she stays on land to catch the movies but “I think it is so neat how many people will brave getting in the water, even if it’s cold, even if it’s terrifying, on their boats and on their floaties to really take it all in.”
Mayor Megan Hanson talking up a new patio restaurant that’s opened on the waterfront harbour in Sylvan Lake, Alta. (Adrienne Lamb/CBC)