The South Shore offers an abundance of lively and entertaining events and festivals to make summertime special! Check out and enjoy fabulous local festivals such as Whiting's world-famous Pierogi Fest®, Hammond's Festival of the Lakes or the Hobart Lakefront Festival.
Check out the Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton county fairs for events, rides, food and exhibits that the whole family will enjoy. Whatever you’re looking to do this summer, whether it’s taking in a car show, music festival or arts festival, or enjoy some of the finest festival food around, you'll never run out of family-friendly events and delightful festivals along the South Shore.
For the Car Enthusiast
South Shore Car Show
The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and Fair Oaks Farms will be hosting a car show on Thursday, August 4, 2016. Numerous cars will take over Fair Oaks Farms for a unique car show experience. The car show includes awards, DJ and music, food, Fair Oaks Farms attractions and fun for the whole family!
Registration is $20 per vehicle and will be cash only. The first 100 registrants will receive a dash plaque and a t-shirt. The awards presentation will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Hot Rod and Custom Bike Show
Hot Rod and Custom Car enthusiasts are invited to Wolf Lake Memorial Park at Sheffield & Calumet Avenues on Sunday, July 24th from noon until 3pm for the 13th Annual Festival of the Lakes Hot Rod & Custom Bike Show.
There will be dash plaques, door prizes, games, rides, awards, trophies, and more. On display this year: monster truck, funny car, and a custom chopper!
Registration for the Festival of the Lakes Hot Rod and Custom Bike Show is from 9am-noon.
Antique Power Steam Show
Come join us and travel back in time at the 32nd Annual Antique Farm and Tractor Show held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point on July 8th, 9th and 10th from 8am to 5pm.
Operational exhibits including antique tractors, steam tractor engines, sawmill and shingle mill, rock crusher, horse shoeing (Saturday and Sunday), garden tractor games (Saturday), chainsaw carving and more. Other activities include a petting zoo, food vendors, flea market, kiddie pedal tractor pull (Sat and Sun at noon) and kiddie tractor "train" ride.
Special events include:
Parade of Power (Saturday & Sunday 2pm)
Antique Tractor Pull (Saturday 6:00pm, Sunday 9:30am)
Worship Service (Non-Denominational - Sunday 9:00am)
Antique Cars (Sunday 10:00am - 3:00pm)
Show Closes approximately 3:00pm
For the Music Lover
Festival of the Lakes
Join us for the 2016 City of Hammond Festival of the Lakes! 5 nights of fun on Wolf Lake, George Lake and Lake Michigan. Festival of the Lakes includes rides, live entertainment, Polka Party, fishing derby, vendors, games and more.
This year marks the 13th Annual Festival of the Lakes which runs from July 20th to July 24th. Some of the annual events happening at this year’s Festival include: Senior Day on July 22nd from noon-2pm at Wolf Lake Memorial Park, the Kathleen Pucalik Memorial 5K Walk, Run & Splash at 8am on July 23rd (start/finish at Wolf Lake Memorial Park), Kids Day at the Wolf Lake Aquatic Play Center on July 23rd starting at 10am, and Special Persons Day on July 23rd, which is a special time set aside for those with permanent disabilities, at Wolf Lake Memorial Park from 10am-12pm.
Festival of the Lakes entertainment schedule:
Wednesday July 20, 2016 -Boyz II Men
Thursday, July 21, 2016 - Eli Young Band
Friday, July 22, 2016 - Classic Rock Night: George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Saturday, July 23, 2016 - Ludacris
Sunday, July 24, 2016 - Banda EL Recodo
All shows start at 7:00pm, headliners at 9:00pm. For more info, click here!
Lighthouse Jazz Festival
Live Music Matters is pleased to present the inaugural Lighthouse Jazz Festival in Michigan City's lakefront Guy Foreman Amphitheatre, located inside historic Washington Park. The one-day festival features live music by top jazz artists, craft beers and wine, food, interactive activities for children and more on July 09, 2016 from 11:00am to 10:00pm.
2016 Wicker Memorial Park Summer Concert Series
The Wicker Memorial Summer Concert Series will be bringing great entertainment to Highland all summer long. The Series runs from June to September at the Wicker Park Social Center Gazebo in Highland. Admission per concert is $7 and a Season Pass is available for $50. The shows are rain or shine and open to those aged 21 and over. Food and drinks (full bar) are available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30pm and showtimes are 7:30pm-10:30pm.
The Summer Concert Series kicked off in June with Region favorites, The Crawpuppies, and will be running every Thursday until September. Some highlights to look out for in July and August include: ‘Dick Diamond & The Dusters’ - July 14th, ‘Bonfire’ (AC/DC Tribute Band) - July 21st, Trippin Billies (Dave Mathews Tribute Band) - July 25th, ‘Infinity’ - August 4th, ‘Kashmir’ (Led Zeppelin Tribute Band) - August 11th, ‘Echoes of Pompeii’ (Pink Floyd Tribute Band) - August 18th, ‘Latin Satin Soul’ - September 8th.
For the Festival-Goer
Popcorn Festival
Boasting the nation's first Popcorn Parade, the Popcorn Festival in downtown Valparaiso offers family-fun every year, the Saturday after Labor Day. The parade is the highlight of the day featuring floats with a popcorn theme, marching bands and local organizations. The festival is held in honor of the late Orville Redenbacher, popcorn mogul and former Valparaiso resident.
Craft, food and fine arts booths line the streets and the kids can enjoy the Kid's Poppin Play Place. Live entertainment can also be heard in the afternoon and early evening.
The week leading up to the event features city hosted activities including the Cutest Baby Contest and the Hot Wheels Contest. Also available during that week are daily lunch and dinner events held under the Orville Redenbacher tent in Central Park Plaza hosted by different charities and businesses.
Click here to find out more information on the upcoming Popcorn Festival.
Hobart Lakefront Festival
This year's marks the 25th Anniversary of the Hobart Lakefront Festival that takes place from August 18th - 21st at Festival Park, 111 E. Old Ridge Road in Hobart. This four-day event features live entertainment, an arts and crafts area, food vendors and a beer garden. The Lakefront Festival also hosts the Hobart Chamber of Commerce Pig Roast and Hobart Community Foundation's Dam Duck Race on Sunday afternoon.
Click here to find out more about the 2016 Hobart Lakefront Festival!
For the Whole Family
Porter County Fair - July 21st - 30th
The Porter County Fair brings a great combination of fun rides, delicious food, 4-H exhibits and activities and some great entertainment including the demolition derby and bull riding! Featured performers this year include Alabama on July 23rd, Cole Swindell with Drew Baldridge on July 22nd and Chris Janson and LOCASH on July 21st.
Click here for more information on this year’s Porter County Fair!
La Porte County Fair - July 10th - 16th
Some of the fun and exciting things happening at this year’s La Porte County Fair include horse racing, stage shows and carnival attractions. Each year the fair is complimented with large exhibiting commercial, industrial, and consumer products. A recent addition to the grounds has been Pioneer Land. It has been very popular with the public and school children who visit it during the school year.
This year's featured entertainment includes Martina McBride on July 15th and 1964 The Tribute honoring the Beatles on July 16th.
Click here for more information on this year’s La Porte County Fair!
Lake County Fair - August 5th - 14th
Beginning in 1852, the Lake County Fair was created by the Lake County Agricultural Society to gather the county together and showcase the incredible agriculture in the area.
Today, the Lake County Fair still sticks to its agricultural roots while adding a modern twist. The fair hosts exciting grandstand events, horse shows, farm animals and thousands of exhibits promoting the diverse talents of Lake County.
The fair also provides a carnival area with more than 30 rides, a free petting zoo, live entertainment and motorsports, a free fireworks show, contests and a delicious variety of food from hundreds of concessions. For more information on the Lake County Fair, click here!
For the Food Lover
Valparaiso Food & Wine Festival -
Wine lovers unite for the annual Valparaiso Food & Wine Festival! Sip and sample over 100 different wines from a variety of local, regional and national vintners. Enjoy live music by the Jeff Brown Trio and food available for purchase from Bon Femme Cafe, Don Quijote Restaurante, Kelsey’s , Lucrezia Olive Oil & Wine Bar, Main + Lincoln, Pikk’s Tavern, Sage, Blue Point, Greek’s Pizzeria & Designer Desserts!
This years Valparaiso Food & Wine Festival is on July 16th from 4pm to 7pm at 68 Lafayette St Valparaiso, IN 46383. For more information call: 219-464-8332, or click here!
Pierogi Fest
Pierogi Fest®, the pride of Whiting, is an opportunity for the residents to celebrate their heritage while poking a little fun at themselves at the same time.
Besides lots of pierogi and an array of food vendors, you'll find a one of a kind parade featuring women dressed in housecoats and babushkas like grandmothers (or bushas), the lawnmower brigade in sandals and socks, plus Mr. Pierogi and Ms. Paczki. This is a truly unique event, so be sure not to miss the Pierogi Parade on Friday night! Other special events include the Mr. Pierogi Songfest, the Pierogi Toss and Pierogi Eating Contest.
The parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.
For more details on Pierogi Fest®, click here.
SS Constantine and Helen Grecian Festival
The Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Church will be hosting its 47th annual Grecian Festival on the Church grounds. Festivities include kiddy carnival and games, Greek music, dancing, marketplace and pastries. Generous portions of roasted lamb, shish-ka-bob, Grecian chicken, Gyros and our award winning Greek Potatoes await your appetite in our air-conditioned Great Hall. Whether making new friends or getting reacquainted with old friends, the outside beer garden is a perfect setting for your outdoor enjoyment. Free parking, free admission and entertainment are provided.
This years Grecian Festival runs from July 08, 2016 - July 10, 2016. Times are Friday from 5pm-11pm and Saturday & Sunday from 12pm-11pm.
Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Church is located at 8000 Madison St Merrillville, IN 46410
For more information, contact Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Church at 219-769-2481, or click here!
For the Artists
Lakefront Art Festival
Lubeznik Center for the Arts' Lakefront Art Festival brings the very best of art and fine craft to Michigan City's lakefront Washington Park on Saturday, August 20th and Sunday, August 21st. Held annually on the third weekend in August, this popular event features opportunities to meet artists from across the country while you shop a wide range of one-of-a-kind items at every price point in a beautiful park setting.
This year’s Lakefront Art Festival includes a kids art activity tent, artist demonstration, beachfront food court and free off-site parking and shuttle service.
Admission to the festival is $4 and LCA members and children under 12 get in free. The event runs from 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday. For more information, click here!
