There will be a lot
on offer at this year’s Family 4th Fest on Wednesday, July 4, in Hawthorne
Park, Porter.
Start the day at 7
a.m. with a delicious Lions Club Pancake and Sausage Breakfast for only $6.
Breakfast will be served until 11:30 a.m.
Next, line up for
the 4th of July parade through downtown Porter and right into Hawthorne
Park. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. from Yost School, and travels along
Beam St. to Lincoln, then to Hageman and into the park where it ends.
Families are encouraged to dress-up in red, white and blue, decorate bikes,
wagons, strollers and walk in the parade as a family unit.
At 10 a.m. the
Lions Club will begin registration for the 79th annual Turtle Derby, open to
kids up to 16 years of age. The first heat is at 11 a.m. The top three
winners will each receive a trophy and cash prize. Entry is free. No
snapping turtles, please!
Immediately
following the Turtle Derby, the new Lions Club drinking fountain will be
dedicated. The new drinking fountain is located near the community building
and playground.
At 1 p.m. the
winning duckies will be pulled in the Lions Club Annual Duck Race. Tickets
will be on sale until the very last minute! Tickets are $5 each or 3 for
$10. Proceeds support community projects.
At 2 p.m. kids age
5-16 are invited to compete for prizes in the Hot Dog Eating Contest by Hot
Diggity Dawg. There is a $3 entry fee Ð register by 1:45 p.m.
Kids of all ages
will have fun playing free games from Noon -1 p.m.; Brick Toss, for all
ages, is from 3-5 p.m., early registration at 2 p.m. The patriotic poster
contest runs from 1-2:30 p.m. There will be bounce houses, a rock climbing
wall, and kiddie rides for toddlers.
Food vendors
include Leroy’s Hot Stuff, Hot Diggity Dogs, Moon’s Kettle Corn & SnoCones,
Ben’s Soft Pretzels, and Dorie’s Elephant Ears, Lemonade Shake-ups, Pork
Tenderloin Sandwiches, Burgers, Deep Fried Ravioli and more. Karaoke goes
from 3-6 p.m., and live music by Hard Knocks from 6-11 p.m. Kick back and
relax in the Leroy’s Hot Stuff beer garden. There will be a fireworks show
set to patriotic music at dusk. Don’t forget to bring a blanket, chairs and
bug spray.
The Duneland
Business Initiative Groups extends special thanks to the Porter Parks
Department, Towns of Porter and Chesterton, Chesterton Lions Club, Leroy’s
Hot Stuff, L.A. Bell, Shelton’s Fireworks, Charles Welter, and the many
volunteers for helping make this event a success.