Monday is the unofficial kick-off to summer, meaning businesses on the lake are preparing for a busy season.

Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer for many, but this year it feels more like fall. Businesses at Smith Mountain Lake weigh in on how the weather affects one of their biggest weekends.

Bring your spoons and your appetite to Bridgewater Marina on Saturday, Nov. 5 for the 19th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival.

Each year, kids come to the Bridgewater Marina at Smith Mountain Lake to feed popcorn to the massive carp that gather around the docks. All popcorn sales are donated to Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia.

Bridgewater Marina in Franklin County is helping children’s wishes become a reality.

Smith Mountain Lake saw a lot of traffic on Labor Day. The weather was perfect for boating, playing a game of mini golf, or even enjoying a meal outside. The holiday brought in a good deal of foot traffic for businesses on the lakefront, which gave it a very different look than last year.

10 News is working for you, making sure you can enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend while on the water.

While that’s good news for some businesses at Smith Mountain Lake this Memorial Day, it’s far from business as usual. For many, spending Memorial Day at Smith Mountain Lake is a summertime tradition, but this year, it's an experience that's anything but traditional. “It’s just nice to get out of the house and see other people out of the house,” said Brittany Massey, who’s visiting the lake. It feels really great,” said Sheila Mohab, who’s also visiting the lake. On top of the bathing suits and boats, hitting the lake comes with a few more essentials this year.

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and the busy season at Smith Mountain Lake. "This summer's been incredible for us," Bridgewater Marina general manager Quincey Price said. Boats at Bridgewater Marina have been booked solid since Memorial Day. "We've got about 100 days to just absolutely go crazy and make as much money as we can," Price said. Price said the money made between Memorial Day and Labor Day keeps the marina and other local businesses afloat during the off season.