Festival of the Lakes brings something for everyone to City of Hammond for weekend of fun in the sun

Festival of the Lakes, the City of Hammond’s premier summer festival, returned to the Pavilion at Wolf Lake (PAV) on Wednesday, July 16, for five days of fun in the sun. Featuring a carnival, boat rides, local vendors, food trucks, and headlining entertainment like Akon, Brantley Gilbert, and Third Eye Blind, the free festival draws thousands to Wolf Lake every year.

“This is Mayor Tom McDermott’s pride and joy. Every summer, he makes this concert series happen, which is an excellent opportunity for Hammond and for tourism, growth, and opportunities for the city,” said Dean Button, city engineer for the City of Hammond.

The fun began on Wednesday with Senior Day at Pulaski Park, one of the special Festival of the Lakes days that ensure everyone is able to participate in the festival. 

“It’s great seeing the city help out the community and do good things – it shows that Hammond is a good place to live and raise a family,” said Reese O’Neil, sewer maintenance and heavy equipment operator for the City of Hammond.

Other days included Kids Day at the Wolf Lake Aquatic Play Center splash pad and Persons with Disabilities Day in the carnival area, both on Saturday. 

“We want to accommodate all parties, all peoples of all backgrounds and abilities,” Button said. “We just really want to include those people in the opportunities that we provide.”

“We have a granddaughter who’s autistic, and Hammond does a lot with the autistic community,” added Isa Hauser, O’Neil’s partner and Festival of the Lakes attendee. “We’re very proud of the city for including her and all the other special needs and handicapped kids in events like this, too.”

With last year’s festival featuring acts like Shinedown, DaBaby, and Marshmello, guests were looking forward to another lineup of incredible artists. Free concerts at the PAV began with Creedence Clearwater Revival lead John Fogerty on Wednesday, and Thursday kept the energy high as country rock artist Brantley Gilbert took the stage.

Friday was headlined by award-winning artist Akon, with homegrown acts like Crucial Conflict and Ben One opening. The unique blend of hip hop, R&B, and pop helped get audiences moving and grooving through the night.

Weekend performances included alt-rock band Third Eye Blind on Saturday and Latin music legends La Arrolladora Banda El Limón on Sunday. In addition to the free concert, each headlining act offered a VIP experience which included preferred seating, backstage opportunities, and a VIP-exclusive refreshment bar.

“It’s awesome. We get to attend concerts of big-name artists right in our backyard,” said Alison Zovko-Barounis, Festival of the Lakes attendee. “I would like to highlight how organized Festival of the Lakes is every year and all the hard work the city officials, event staff, patrolmen and women, and everyone involved put into this festival to make every year as awesome as the last.”

In addition to the concerts, Festival of the Lakes also gave attendees the chance to participate in a variety of events, ranging from the annual Roadie Run to the Fishing Derby. Stand-out events included the Polka Party on Sunday as well as the fireworks show over Wolf Lake on Friday and Saturday.

With another successful festival in the books, the City of Hammond is already looking forward to next year’s event. Keep an eye on the Festival of the Lakes Facebook page for future updates, and visit gohammond.com to learn about other fun, free events happening throughout the city.