A day-long 4th of July Festival will be hosted by the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club to celebrate Independence Day. Everyone is welcome! Admission is free. The festivities begin with the Chesterton Lions Club pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. at Hawthorne Park.  The Annual 4th of July Parade begins at Yost School at 9 a.m. and ends at Hawthorne Park. Participation in the parade is FREE! We’re thrilled to have retiring Porter Police Chief Todd Allen as this year’s Grand Marshal!

Other activities include the Lion’s Club Turtle Derby at 11 a.m. (registration starts at 10:00 a.m.). Throughout the afternoon, enjoy games and activities for kids and families including the  Patriotic Poster Contest (Noon-2 p.m.) and the ever-popular Brick Toss Contest at 3 p.m. Both events are hosted by Porter Parks Dept. There will also be an obstacle course bounce house for kids. The NAWTY band takes the stage from 6-9:30 p.m.; with music from Motown, you can't go wrong with the ever-changing NAWTY band. A grand Fireworks show set to patriotic music is scheduled to begin shortly after dusk.

Leroy’s Hot Stuff will host a beer garden in the park throughout the afternoon and evening and there will be plenty of great food available from Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Chesterton Lions Club, Chomp, The Dogg House, Kona Ice of the Dunes, Leroy’s, Dog Days Ice Cream, La Boeuf Cajun, and Cool Runnings Jamaican starting at noon.

For more information, call 219-617-1742 or email parks@townofporter.com