There’s no better way to begin the summer than by bringing the community together. On Friday, June 16 the City of La Porte kicked off its third annual Friday Night Live summer event series with an unforgettable 50s Cruise Night. People from all over the Region gathered in La Porte’s downtown for a rock ‘n’ roll evening packed with fun, food, cars, and some fantastic tunes.
Last year’s Friday Night Lives had record turnouts and this year’s first event of the summer did not disappoint.
“Even with the chillier weather we have such a great turnout tonight. There are tons of families here dancing along with the band and hanging out around the cars and trying new foods. It’s such a great event and it gets better every year,” said Civic Events Director Brett Binversie.
The event truly brought everyone together for an exciting night of fun. Mayor Tom Dermody walked around greeting and high-fiving people, while The Remedy Band, last year’s 50s Cruise Night featured band, made an exciting reappearance.
As everyone danced and sang their hearts out to the Remedy Band’s jams, it became clear that La Porte’s Friday Night Live events are more than just the typical downtown happening. They’ve become an integral part of the summer that everyone looks forward to each year.
“We have so many special things here in La Porte that separate us from other communities and this is one of them. I believe that all of our citizens and residents know how special La Porte is and it’s great to see everyone out here enjoying themselves. I want to thank our team for putting on such a perfect event,” said Dermody.
When they weren’t rocking the night away, attendees could peruse several local artisan stands such as Get Bent Jewelry. They also had a wonderful time snacking on delicious foods and beverages from many local restaurants like Hotspot Cafe, Social Que, and Burn Em’ Brewery. The night was ultimately the perfect way for the City of La Porte to show off some of its hidden gems.
“It’s a great way to show people our downtown. I love that some of our downtown restaurants double their normal sales on a Friday when we hold these events. Last year we had a lot of people walking through here who came from Porter County, Stark County, Kosciusko County--all kinds of different places. They just heard about the event and came to check it out, and I think that says a lot and shows how much we have to offer,” said Binversie.
Of course, the night wouldn’t have been a cruise night without many classic cars for car lovers to gawk at. Red Wine and Brew even held a raffle that people could enter to win a gorgeous Mustang. Looking around at the event and all the smiling faces, it could easily be said that the City of La Porte continues to provide incredible opportunities for its citizens to kick back and enjoy themselves.
“People love having something to do on Friday night without driving super far. We’re moving towards having a more walkable downtown and this is an example of what La Porte can be not only on the weekends but during the week as well. We’re just so pleased with how the city keeps growing,” said Dermody.
Overall, La Porte’s 50s Cruise Friday Night Live event couldn’t have been a bigger success. The City of La Porte team is thankful to all the local businesses and organizations who came out and added to the evening’s activities. The team is also thankful to Centier Bank for sponsoring the event.
If you missed out on tonight’s downtown bash, don’t worry! Several more Friday Night Live events are slated for this summer. Taco Fest will be held on Friday, July 7th, Cheeseburger in Paradise will take place on Friday, August 11, and Sunflower Fair will be held in September.
To learn more about the City of La Porte and its upcoming summer events, visit https://www.cityoflaporte.com/.
