10 Fun Things to Do this Weekend in Northwest Indiana: July 1-3, 2016

10 Fun Things to Do this Weekend in Northwest Indiana: July 1-3, 2016

It's Independence Day Weekend! We have a roundup of all the big Fourth of July events in Northwest Indiana here, but that doesn't mean those are the only fun things to do this weekend!

Friday | Saturday | Sunday

If you have any suggestions for fun things happening this summer in Northwest Indiana, send us an email to share@ideasinmotionmedia.com and we'll add them to our calendar!

2016 Cedar Lake Summerfest 
A four day festival celebrating the 4th of July. Awesome event for the whole family. Land Parade, Boat Parade, Cardboard Boat Race, Beer Garden, Live Entertainment, Carnival, Car Show, 2 Nights of Fireworks, and so much MORE.

Hobart Jaycee Fest
Jayceefest 2016 is once again returning downtown to the Hobart Rugby Field! With our unfortunate luck with terrible rain the last couple years, we are moving the festival to the newly laid pavement in the parking lot. Unfortunately, this means that we won’t have the carnival this year as we’re taking over that spot. Another change, bringing things back to how we’ve done it in the past, is there’s no family section this year. The entire Jayceefest will be 21+. Admission each night is $5, however, Thursday is Military night and all veterans and active duty members of our armed forces will receive free admission. On Sunday, admission is free until 7pm, so come on in and start the party early! Gates open at 6pm on Thursday & Friday and at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Lubeznik First Friday, New Exhibitions & Fragile Soul 
Daryl Thetford's Conversations with Chaos is a compelling body of photo collage work that is informed by the richness of the psyche, while minimalist painter, Ezra Siegel uses plaster, graphite and multiple washed to create tones, shapes and textures as shown in Moment in Time. Chicago installation artist Lucy Slivinski uses a vast array of found and recycled materials to create conceptual constructions represented in The Rebirth of How along the LCA promenade. All set to the smooth sounds of singer/songwriter band Fragile Soul, this is sure to be a First Friday you won't want to miss!

Zao Island Summer Concert Series: Friday: Angelo Cicco | Saturday: Marco Villareal Project
Did you know Zao Island in Valparaiso is not only a top destination for family fun, but we now also present: Live Music every Friday and Saturday night? Zao Island will be presenting some of the area's best original rock, blues, reggae, jazz, and jam bands on Friday and Saturday nights (full bands lineup below). Music from 7-10 p.m. No cover.  

See a Show at the Goodrich Portage 16 IMAX
Get out of hearing those fireworks and get into watching some on-screen explosions! It is looking like a great weekend to see a flick at the Portage 16 IMAX, with movies like The Legend of Tarzan, The BFG, and The Purge: Election Year joining the already great list of new movies at the Portage IMAX!

Michigan City Star Spangled Bicentennial Parade 
Join us as we celebrate Independence Day, America’s Heroes and Indiana’s Bicentennial in beautiful Michigan City! Lineup begins at 9 am CST on Franklin Street from Coolspring Avenue, north to Arthur Street. The parade route will be Franklin Street, beginning at Arthur Street and heading north to Detroit Street. This year’s Patriotic Parade theme is Honoring America’s Heroes.

Red Wine and Brew 
Nashville's Hottest Rising Stars LIVE at Red Wine and Brew! Highnoon Band, Natalie Stovall and the Drive, Lindsay Ell, and Dylan Scott. Get tickets now for July 3rd! Starting at just $20 and special HEROES $10 ticket for actively serving Police, Fire, EMS or Military! Located in the Pioneer Land area of the LaPorte Fairgrounds, you can pull into the fairgrounds to park near the quaint buildings of Pioneer Land, where you will see them transformed to craft beer saloons with some rocking country/classic rock on the stage at the end of the street from 3pm to 9:30pm.

Merrillville 2016 4th of July Celebration at Hidden Lake 
The 2016 Merrillville 4th of July celebration will kick off with an Independence Day Festival at Hidden Lake. There will be vendors, a beer garden, live band "The Original Hazard County Band", and a fireworks show. No walk-ins or drop-offs permitted, vehicles only.

City of Whiting Fireworks and Party in the Park 
The City of Whiting invites you and your family to kick off this summer with a bang. Join us for a star spangled celebration beginning Friday, July 3rd in Whiting Lakefront Park. Start the night enjoying a pre-fireworks party from 5 pm – 10 pm with a beer garden and food featuring live music by the Nick Danger Band. Relax along the shores of Whihala Beach, with an amazing view of the Chicago skyline.

Weird Al Yankovic: Mandatory World Tour 
Few would have guessed that “Weird Al” Yankovic, who as a shy, accordion-playing teenager got his start sending in homemade tapes to the Dr. Demento Radio Show, would go on to become the biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history with over 12 million album sales. Now in his fourth career decade, he has won 4 Grammys (with 14 nominations) and countless awards and accolades for Weird Al classics like “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Fat,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Amish Paradise” and “The Saga Begins.” His 2011 album Alpocalypse (featuring the Lady Gaga parody "Perform This Way") debuted in the Billboard Top 10, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards (Best Comedy Album and Best Short Form Video).