story by GLENDA WINDERS
Now would be a good time to mark July 17 to 21 on your calendar and make plans to head for what is shaping up to be an epic celebration in Hammond. This summer marks the 20th anniversary of Festival of the Lakes, so the organizers are pulling out all the stops to make this the best year ever.
“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, Festival of the Lakes strives to continue to be the festival that brings our diverse community together,” said Aileen Ibarra, special events coordinator for Hammond Parks and Recreation, “a place where family and friends come together and enjoy thrilling music, amazing food and carnival rides.”
This annual even began in 1984, when former Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Sr. established AugustFest, a 10-day festival that commemorated the 100th anniversary of Hammond’s establishment in Indiana. In 2004, Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. rebranded the event as Festival of the Lakes to celebrate Lake Michigan, Wolf Lake and George Lake and slimmed it down to five days.
The festival serves to promote the city and its diversity of people while giving families a chance to enjoy time together. This year the musical entertainment will include Shinedown and Calibre 50, along with other nationally recognized headliners who are yet to be announced.
Past years have seen such spectacular acts as Travis Tritt, Cheap Trick and Foreigner. The largest concert turnout for Festival of the Lakes was in 2021, when the park was at full capacity in attendance for Latin Night to see Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
Much more awaits you, too, with something for everyone in your family. You’ll find a midway with carnival rides and games, boat rides on Lake Wolf and regional favorite food served up by some 20 vendors. A shuttle will run from the Hammond NICTD Southshore Train line to the event. Planners are expecting more than 50,000 to attend.
Admission to all of the events is free, although concertgoers might consider upgrading to the VIP pass. With that, they’ll be able to sit in special seating right in front of the stage, go backstage after the show and buy drinks at a special VIP bar.
Whichever festival activities strike your fancy, it’s for sure that if you head for Hammond this summer, you’re headed for fun.
For more information visit: www.gohammond.com
