La Porte LakeFest
Uncle Kracker Live at LakeFest – Premium Passes On Sale Now!

LA PORTE INDIANA

LAKEFEST 2026

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Limited Premium Stage Front Passes for Saturday Night Entertainment on sale now!
Get them before they're gone!

July 24 - July 26, 2026

City of La Porte, Indiana

Pine, Stone and Clear Lakes

The City of La Porte is counting down the days until the sixth annual LakeFest!

Running July 24th through July 26th, the festival boasts three days of music, art, food and fun for the whole family on La Porte’s Pine, Stone and Clear lakes. This event is the perfect occasion to showcase the city’s lakes and natural resources, as well as show neighboring communities what it means to be “Livin’ the Lake Life” in the City of La Porte.

Back this year are recent additions, including the weekend steamboat rides on Pine Lake, a family beach bash along Stone Lake, free fitness classes in Unity Park and a Sunday brew fest on Stone Lake Beach. Of course, live music returns to the parks, as well as an artisan market, car show, outdoor recreational activities and more.

With something for everyone in your family, LakeFest promises to be an unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss! We hope to see you there!

Parking & Road Closures

Road closures planned for this weekend’s LakeFest

The following roads will be closed over the weekend:

  • Grangemouth Road: 8 a.m. Saturday, July 27, until 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28
  • Hoelocker Drive: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, to any traffic – including pedestrians – for fireworks staging

 

Parking for LakeFest attendees will be available at the following locations:

  • Friday through Sunday at Fox Park: Parking will be allowed in all the lots surrounding the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater and Ron Reed Field. On Saturday only, the south lot off McClung Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the Clear Lake Craft Market and then opened at 5:30 p.m. for Premier Parking Pass holders only. Also on Saturday evening, parking will be allowed at Scharf Field and auxiliary lots off Truesdell across from The Banks and off Clear Lake Boulevard across from Dunes Event Center. Paladin will provide a free shuttle from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday with stops throughout Fox Park.
  • Saturday through Sunday at Soldiers Memorial Park: Parking will be allowed in the Stone Lake Beach House lot and along Grangemouth Road from the beach house to Lakeshore Drive on the east side of the road. Overflow parking will be allowed along Veterans Parkway and at the Park Office. The Cummings Lodge parking lot will be closed.

 

Schreiber also noted that Stone Lake will be temporarily closed by permit to watercraft in order to host the P1 AquaX races from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Any boats leaving the launch or docks on Stone Lake before 8 a.m. will not be allowed to return to the lake until after 5 p.m. Stone Lake Beach remains open to the public on both days.

Concert headliners announced for City of La Porte's 2026 LakeFest

The City of La Porte announced today that world-famous recording artist Uncle Kracker will headline this summer’s LakeFest, according to Park Superintendent and LakeFest Committee Chair Mark Schreiber.

The “Follow Me” and “Smile” performer will play a free live show on Saturday, July 25, at the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater in Fox Park. The show will be preceded by a pair of opening acts to be announced at a later date.

Uncle Kracker’s career has included four albums in the Billboard Top 200, with his most notable single “Follow Me” clinching the #1 spot in four countries. His double-platinum duet with international country artist Kenny Chesney soared to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart. With a breezy sound that blends country, pop, and rock spiked with a splash of hip-hop, Schreiber said Uncle Kracker is the perfect fit for this lakeside show.

“In our search for a headliner, we were looking for an artist that feels like summer – and Uncle Kracker fits the bill perfectly,” Schreiber said. “With a long catalogue of hits that people know and love, we know this show will be hit for fans of all ages. We’re excited to see the community come together for what’s sure to be an incredible night along the lake.”

While there isn’t a bad seat in the park, Schreiber said a limited number of Premium Front Stage Passes will be available for sale for those individuals looking to get a little closer to the action. Passes will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 27, at laportelakefest.com. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

Uncle Kracker

 Uncle Kracker cuts right to the chase. He knows people want to kick back, forget about their troubles, and have a good time, so he’s always willing to oblige. For over two decades, the multi-platinum artist born Matthew Shafer has consistently soundtracked such good times with his boldly breezy blend of country, pop, and rock spiked with a splash of hip-hop. The world initially met Uncle Kracker during his stint in Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker Band, lending his songwriting and musical acumen to seven cuts off the RIAA diamond-certified Devil Without A Cause. However, fans fell in love with him on his solo debut Double Wide in 2000. It not only crashed the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 at #7, but it also picked up a double-platinum certification and paved the way for the gold-certified follow-up No Stranger To Shame [2002]. He has impressively notched #1 entries in three different genre lanes, topping Pop, Adult Contemporary, and Country charts. The platinum “Follow Me” clinched #1 in four countries, while the double-platinum “When The Sun Goes Down” [with Kenny Chesney] vaulted to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart. He made history with his cover of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.” It logged 28 consecutive weeks at #1 on Adult Contemporary Radio, earning “the most weeks atop any Billboard chart.” Meanwhile, “Smile” shined across culture. It reached triple-platinum status and landed dozens of syncs, including a spot for The Office and a tribute montage to Regis Philbin on his final episode of Live With Regis & Kelly. Following 2012’s country album Midnight Special, he served up singles such as “Endlessly,” “Floatin’,” and “No Time To Be Sober.” Right on cue, Uncle Kracker continues to create new music with a brand-new album Coffee & Beer out now, featuring singles “Beach Chair,” “Reason To Drink,” and “Sweet 16.”

Thanks to our 2026 Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

PINE LAKE RENTALS

Make Unforgettable Memories With Unforgettable People At LakeFest 2026