A youngster sports the Colors at the 2014 Jaycees parade. (WNLP photo; click to enlarge)
More details are forthcoming, but for now here are the basics you need to know for the LaPorte Jaycees’ 4th of July Celebration and activities surrounding it:
— Saturday, June 27: 42nd annual Arts and Crafts Festival, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monroe and State streets (in conjunction with the LaPorte Farmers Market). More than 30 crafters and artisans from Indiana will showcase items including beauty products, cookware, handmade jewelry, home decor, clay pots, lighted bottles, burlap items, artwork, photos, temporary tattoos and face painting, candles, bookmarks, kids’ wands and crowns, dream catchers, and more. Children will have the opportunity to make a free Fourth of July-related craft, enjoy games and play in a bounce house. A local Boy Scouts of America troop will be selling food.
— Thursday and Friday, July 2 and 3: Beer Barns. Come to the Pioneer Land area at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds to enjoy live entertainment and refreshments. Gates open at 6 p.m. and bands will play from 7 to 11 p.m. Middle of the Road Band will perform Thursday, July 2. The Sushi Roll Band will perform Friday, July 3. Suggested donation to enter is $5. You must be 21 or older and have a valid photo ID. Please drink responsibly.
— Saturday, July 4: Kiwanis Club of LaPorte’s 2015 Run for Riley. Race-day registration will begin at 7 a.m. in Aldi’s parking lot at West Ind. 2/Andrew Avenue, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. The simple out-and-back course takes runners on historic Lincolnway. Registration is $20 if you sign up prior to June 20 or $25 if you sign up later. Visit www.laportejaycees.org to register.
— Saturday, July 4: 69th annual LaPorte Jaycees Fourth of July Parade. No explanation needed; this historic event will kick off at 10 a.m., heading east to west on Lincolnway, rain or shine. This is one of the largest parades in Indiana and each year earns LaPorte the title of Capital for a Day.
— Saturday, July 4 (new for 2015): Concert at the Fairgrounds. Sponsored by Bethany Lutheran Church, this concert will feature The Henningsens. The concert will begin at 4 p.m. (opening acts at 3:30 p.m.); open seating is $10 per ticket. Tickets include free early seating for the fireworks. Don’t miss this great band, famous for their writing skills on their own hit song, “American Beautiful,” and hits such as “You Lie” and “All Your Life” for The Band Perry. Proceeds benefit local drug and suicide prevention efforts of Frontline Foundation, the LaPorte County Sheriff K9 Program and LaPorte City Police/Schools DARE Program. Proceeds also assist in funding the fireworks.
— Saturday, July 4: fireworks show. The annual show, this year presented by ACE Pyrotechnics, will begin at dusk at the fairgrounds. If you plan to watch there, the cost is $5 per carload; that includes parking and general yard seating. Otherwise choose your spot in nearby areas. At the fairgrounds, activities for kids, concessions and a beer garden will be available for an additional fee.
— Jeep Wrangler raffle: The Jaycees and Bethany Church are partnering again to sell raffle tickets to benefit the fireworks show, LaPorte Police, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office and Frontline Foundations. Main prize is a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport. Tickets are $20 each; sales are limited to 3,000. Contact the Jaycees or Bethany to buy tickets, or buy them at the 4th activities.