What’s recently happened?
The Fourth of July in the Lakes of Four Seasons (LOFS) is a major event. There is a parade, food trucks, bouncy houses, and a fireworks show to end the night.
This year, the day started as early as attendees arrived at the clubhouse to reserve their spot to watch the parade. There are golf carts and tents that go as far as the eye can see from West to North Lakeshore Drive.
As they waited for the parade to begin, attendees met up with friends and family while exploring the parade route.
At 11 a.m., the multitude of decorated parade floats lined up on West Lakeshore Drive. Then, at noon, the parade starts and makes its way down the road.
The parade floats featured LOFS volunteer firefighters, LOFS security, their baseball and soccer teams, the LOFS pool staff, and many more wonderfully decorated floats for the Fourth of July.
After the parade, attendees were encouraged to have fun with friends and family until it was time for fireworks. While they waited for the fireworks show they could get food from a food truck and stay by the clubhouse or go have fun anywhere they wanted.
The fireworks show started at 9:15 p.m. The fireworks went off one after the other for about 25 to 30 minutes over Lake Holiday.
After that long day, everyone was able to go home and spend more quality time with their family and friends.
What’s coming up?
The Porter County Fair starts July 18 and ends July 27. It is located at the Porter County Fairgrounds on Division in Valparaiso.
The Expo Center opens at 11 a.m. Each day attendees can explore the indoor vendors until 8 p.m. There are many businesses and organizations that they can talk to and look at. They have many other entertainment opportunities such as rodeos, animal shows, live music, and many more. There are many livestock buildings, 4-H, and in the expo center there is the Open Class.
There are many shops with a variety of things including jewelry, clothing, some beauty items, and snacks. Alongside that, there are booths set up to pass out information about organizations in the community.
Tickets for many concerts and events during the fair can be found at at portercountyfair.com.
On Saturday, August 3, is the Kiwanis Corn Roast. It is being held at Central Park Plaza in Downtown Valparaiso on Lincolnway. This event will take place between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets to get in are $25 for adults and are free to kids under the age of 10.
Southern Accents – The Ultimate Tom Petty Experience and American English Beatles Tribute will be playing during the Corn Roast. For entertainment, there will also be lawn games, along with many things for the kids to do so they will not get bored.
For food options, there will be corn, which was provided by Riley Charlesworth and How Sweet It Is – Charlesworth sweet corn. Food vendors will also be available with food to purchase. In attendance at the Corn Roast are Valpo Velvet, The Sizzle Shack, Kona Ice of the Dunes, Donut NV, Noaks Popcorn, The Lunchbox, Byway Brewing Company, Ken Dawgs, and Tocayos.
Attendees will also see the Miss Porter County Pageant Court at many events around the fair. On the court this year are Jillian Young, Brooke Trinidad, Tya Combs, Evyenia Butterfield, and Miss Porter County Fair Queen Gwen Weaver.
Community member spotlight:
Patricia Ralph has been a citizen of Porter County since 1968. She is married to Carrol Ralph. Together they have three kids. She is a grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother to five with another on the way.
Ralph has been a part of the Homemakers Club for 54 years.
She has also been with the Open Class at the Porter County Fair since the beginning of it in 1985. Ralph became the superintendent 24 years ago. The Open Class is for anyone over the age of 18 and not currently in 4-H.
The Open Class is meant to show off adults' skills in arts and crafts, clothing construction, photography, needlecraft, food and food preservation, and many more areas of specialty. Ralph has watched the program over the ups and downs.
“It has increased in numbers many times over the years, from occupying a small corner to filling half a room,” Ralph said.
She has a handful of volunteers who help her put everything together in order to be ready for the fair.
“We have had many wonderful volunteers over the years who have helped make it happen,” Ralph said.
Ralph is very proud of the program she helped build up to today and is very grateful for everything and everyone who helped bring it to life.
