The city of Laporte’s local businesses and organizations are once again gearing up for a fun-filled community Independence Day celebration.
The event will take place Friday and Saturday in and around Laporte. This year’s activities feature new and expanded fun and activities for all ages, with the hopes of continuing to make Laporte an Independence Day fireworks destination.
The Laporte Independence Days Celebration kicks off with an all-day craft and flea market in downtown Laporte Friday. With almost 70 vendors, there is surely something for everyone. There is take-out food service from the Popple Bar and Grill along with other food vendors, including the Hatch Burrito food truck.
A new event this year is the Trinity By the Lake Fine Art Show at Trinity Lutheran Church. Friday times are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from from 11 to 4.
The annual volleyball tournament at The Woodshed starts at 6 p.m. and teams will compete for $250 in prize money. Register your team or just show up.
The horseshoe tournament, sponsored by the Laporte-Benedict Lions club, starts at 6 p.m. at the Laporte Fireman’s Park on County Road 39. The tourney features a blind draw for partners and cash prizes as well. For more information, contact Greg at (218) 224-2399.
The Lake May Line Dancers will be putting on a dance exhibition at the Laporte Park Shelter at 7 p.m. Stop by to cheer them on and learn a few dances. The day concludes with a free family movie, “Wonka,” in the Laporte School commons at 8 p.m. Bring your chairs and blankets to have an outdoor movie experience indoors without the bugs and noise! The Laporte PTO will be serving concessions, with chances to win prizes through “Boom Boom Bucks” inserted in selected chocolate bars (purchase of chocolate bar required for chance to win).
The festivities start bright and early on Saturday with the 5K walk/run benefiting the Lakeport Emergency Medical Responders. Registration fee is $25 and starts at 7:30 a.m. with the race at 8. A pancake breakfast hosted by the Laporte-Benedict Lions Club and runs from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Laporte Community Bible Church, along with the all-day craft and flea market.
The Soil Water Conservation District will conduct free well water nitrate testing at the Laporte Park Shelter from 9 to noon. Bring in a half cup sample of well water and have it tested while you wait.
Lakeport Fire and Rescue will hold its annual Open House, pork feed and silent auction at the Lakeport Fire Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A fine pork dinner with all the homemade fixings will be served for a free will donation. This event has been a crowd pleaser for years and helps raise funds for the fire department’s relief fund! Work off the good eats at The Popple Bar and Grill’s corn hole tournament. Register your team by 11 a.m. and the competition starts at noon.
Beltrami Electric, a key sponsor of Laporte Independence Days, will have boom truck rides at the Laporte Park Shelter from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get a birds-eye view of the festivities and town.
A car show is at the Laporte School west parking lot from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are three place prizes for the People’s Choice Awards. Afternoon events also include a bouncy house at The Door, kids’ carnival at Trinity Lutheran Church and the hair bling studio at Halo Salon.
The Laporte-Benedict Lions Club will be hosting a variety of events throughout the day, starting with the pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Laporte Community Bible Church. The Cow-a-Bunga raffle, featuring our friend Syggi, will take place at 11:30 a.m. — this is an earlier start from years past. It ends when Syggi “plops” on the winning square(s) or 1 p.m., whichever comes first.
Starting at 2:30 and running until 4:30 p.m. is the silent auction with amazing items donated by local businesses.
The Lions Bingo will take place outside at the Laporte Park Shelter at 3 p.m. — a 10 game play package is only $5 and winners pick from donated prizes.
After the parade and prior to fireworks, the Lions fun peaks with the annual raffle. This year there are 15 prizes worth almost $6,000 in value. Raffle tickets should be available throughout the day.
The Knights of Columbus will be serving up food at the Laporte Park Shelter starting at 2 p.m. with a menu including brats, burgers and hotdogs. The WoodShed beer tent will be serving starting at 2 p.m.
A root beer float fundraiser for JO Volleyball will be held downtown as well.
One of the city’s most popular Independence Day events, the kids Soap Box Derby, will start at 5 p.m. on the hill by the Laporte Community Bible Church. Derby cars and helmets are supplied and prize bags will be given to participants. Registration starts at 4:30 at the starting line.
No celebration is complete without live music, a parade and fireworks — and the Laporte Independence Days has them all! Paradigm will perform starting at 6 p.m. at the park shelter. The parade starts at 7:30 with the lineup at the Laporte School at 7. For parade information and to register, contact Kim at (218) 507-1975.
After the parade and the Lions raffle, the live entertainment continues leading up to the magnificent fireworks display at dusk sponsored by the Garfield Lake Ice Racers!
Join us as we celebrate our small town with this big celebration! A big thanks to Beltrami Electric and Paul Bunyan Communications along with our local businesses for sponsoring the event. Check out the Laporte Independence Days facebook page for more information.
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