Heather Wright/The Independent

There were hundreds of tubes, floaties, rafts and kayaks – and at least one giant pink flamingo – as hundreds of people took part in the 50th anniversary of the Port Huron Float Down Sunday.

Floaters took off from Lighthouse Beach in Port Huron under cloudy skies, despite the threat of thunderstorms and warnings from both the US and Canadian Coast Guard that the unsanctioned event was not safe. More joined the party on the river coming into the St. Clair on the Canadian side of the river in Point Edward.

Coast Guard boats could be seen all along the St. Clair River. Sarnia Fire Rescue had two marine units monitoring the event and the PointSAR Marine Rescue from the Coast Guard Canada Auxiliary was also out on the water willing to help.

Point Edward, in a social media post, said it would not be providing support to those who decided to make the trip to Marysville, Michigan.

Hundreds lined the shores of the river to watch the parade of paddlers head downstream.

There have been no reports of mishaps or injuries during the float down, which closed the St. Clair River to marine traffic for six hours Sunday.