Lake Granbury

Water Safety Awareness Day

2026 Water Safety Awareness Day

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026
Rough Creek Park at Lake Granbury

Lake Granbury Water Safety Awareness Day

The Brazos River Authority Lake Granbury office hosts a Water Safety Awareness Day each May to educate the community while handing out free life jackets for the kiddos while supplies last. Best of all, all activities for the day are FREE.

Nobody thinks it will happen to them. But, roughly 10 people drown each day in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water safety messages can never be heard enough, and reminders to take care around water can be done in fun and engaging ways for all ages. Even for those who have been out before, re-hearing and reinforcing water safety techniques and measures can be lifesaving.

Every layer of protection is important to ensure not even one life is lost, as drownings are 100 percent preventable. We couldn’t do this without all the amazing sponsors, participants and volunteers each year that help make this a success and make our community just a little safer.

Lifejacket 101

Want to Sponsor or participate?

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to Sponsor or participate?

If you or your agency would like to participate in the next Lake Granbury Water Safety Awareness Day, email information@brazos.org or call (817) 573-3212.

Here are some of the organizations and groups who work to make safety a priority and have signed up to make this year’s event a success:

95.5 K-Hits
American Red Cross
Carter Blood Care
City of Granbury Parks Department
Cook Children’s Center for Community Health
Gary & Janice Turner – Hot Dog Cooks
Granbury Fire Department
Herpetologist, Mark Pyle
Hood County Community Emergency Response Team
Hood County Emergency Management
Indian Harbor Fire Department
Pecan Plantation Fire Department
Power Line Safety Group
Radiant Swim School
Raising Canes
Remembering Wyatt Dale Foundation
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office
Texas Department of State Services
Texas EMS and local first responders
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Dinosaur Valley State Park
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens
Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries
TEXSAR Search and Rescue
Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
YMCA

Lifejacket 101

Drowning prevention starts with a properly fitting life jacket and one that is U.S. Coast Guard-approved.

Just like with driving a car, boating safety isn’t something to take for granted. Conditions on the water can change quickly and turn what may have started as a routine and peaceful outing into a hazardous and difficult one. Just as you wouldn’t expect to be able to fasten your seatbelt as an accident occurs while in a car, you shouldn’t think that there will be time to grab a lifejacket as trouble strikes.

Buying a life jacket for your child to "grow into" can put them in danger while they are near or in the water. An improper-fitting life jacket could be just as dangerous as not wearing one. The life jacket must fit properly to function the way it was designed to function.

Try It On

Check the manufacturer’s ratings for your size and weight to get started.
Make sure the life jacket is properly zipped or buckled.
Raise your arms straight up over your head while wearing the life jacket, and grab the shoulder material, gently pulling up.
If there is excess room above the openings and the life jacket rides up over your chin or face, it does NOT fit properly. A snug fit in these areas signals a properly fitting life jacket.
If the jacket is too tight, go the next size up. Life jackets that are too small will not be able to keep your body afloat.

Important Reminders

Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved.
Double-check that your life jacket is appropriate for your favorite boating activities.
Life jackets meant for adults do not work for children. If you are boating with children, make sure they are wearing properly fitted, child-sized life jackets.
All life jackets must be in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible and of the right size for the intended wearer.

Texas state law requires children age 13 and younger to wear a life jacket at all times while a boat less than 26 feet long is underway. And when adults wear life jackets, not only does it help keep them safe, it also sets a good example for children. All vessels under 16 feet – including canoes and kayaks – must be equipped with a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person onboard. Vessels 16 feet and longer are required to be equipped with a throwable life preserver as well as a wearable life jacket for everyone aboard. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for use on personal watercraft, for water skiing or for other activities involving speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the event cost?

The life jackets, food, and activities are all free.

Do I need to bring my child to get a life jacket?

No, however, having them on site allows the professionals to help a guardian pick out the right size life jacket for the kid. Life Jackets are based on a person’s weight, not their age.

Does my kid have to wear a life jacket if I’m with them?

Texas state law requires children age 13 and younger to wear a life jacket at all times while a boat less than 26 feet long is underway.

How can my organization participate in next year’s event?

If you or your agency would like to participate in the next Lake Granbury Water Safety Awareness Day, email information@brazos.org or call (817) 573-3212.

Do you have life jackets for infants?

Yes, every life jacket given away at the event is free and on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability.

Do I have to be a Granbury resident to get a free life jacket?

You don’t, this event is welcome to the whole community.

Are there restrooms?

Yes, Rough Creek Park has restrooms. See a full list of Lake Granbury public use amenities here.

How can I get more information?

Email information@brazos.org or call (817) 573-3212.