Culver Lake Fest will return July 17 2015 weekend  

		
		By: 
Jeff Kenney
Culver's annual Lake Fest, the largest of the community's yearly events, will return during the weekend of July 17 
through 19, bringing back a host of old favorites and new offerings.

The theme at this year's popular parade (Saturday morning the 18th, starting near downtown Culver at 10 a.m.)
 is "100 Years of Reading," with honored parade marshals being representatives of the Culver-Union Twp. Public 
 Library.

Things get started, however, on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. with the Culver Kiwanis Club's annual golf outing at
 Mystic Hills Golf Course, with food and commercial booths opening up at "ground zero" for the festival -- the 
 Culver town park -- at 4 p.m.

This year's Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard race launches by 
the park's lighthouse at 6 p.m., with the Miss Maxinkuckee pageant kicking off at the same time at the west 
pavilion (crowning is at 8 p.m.). Replacing previous iterations of Friday night talent shows will be a karaoke 
event at 7 p.m. in the west pavilion, and there's a corn hole toss contest at the same hour at the basketball 
courts.

Registration for this year's family bass fishing tournament starts at 5:30 a.m. Saturday at the West Shore public 
landing (the tourney itself starts at 7, with weigh-in and awards at 11 a.m. at the park pier), at its 6:30 a.m. 
registration for the annual fun run, starting at the beach lodge.

The Culver Lions' pancake and sausage breakfast serves from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the train depot (they'll be serving
 from 7 to 10 on Sunday morning as well).

This year, the former Sunfish Regatta has been renamed the Maxinkuckee Yacht Club Lake Fest Regatta, and 
it will set sail at 9 a.m.

The Culver park's kids' games start at 11 a.m. and run through 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and live music offerings 
throughout that day include performers Chad Van Herk, Sentimental Journey, and Night Shift.

The Culver Fire Department's annual water ball tournament hits State Street at 1:30 p.m.

As in years past, the Culver Coffee Company will offer its beer garden in the Lake Shore Drive lot adjacent to
 Brockey Insurance, and live music will be hosted at the Lakehouse Grille Saturday night as well.

As always, one of the main highlights of the festival is the fireworks display over Lake Maxinkuckee, which 
starts at 10 p.m.

Sunday morning will see the return of the L'Max Bike Ride (which includes 10 and 30-mile routes this year), 
starting at 7 a.m. This year's ride has been moved to a starting locale of the parking lot west of Brockey 
Insurance on Lake Shore Drive, and the cost is $25 if registration is done ahead (the first 150 registered 
by July 13 receive a free-shirt), with proceeds benefiting the Lake Fest fireworks fund. The last registration 
for the 30-mile ride will be 10 a.m. (the first registration will begin at 6:30). Proof of a helmet is required 
at registration, and snacks and drink will be provided at the end of the ride, at the beach lodge.

A community church service in the park is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., with the festival's annual car show slated
 for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's car show is expected to be larger than in years past. More vendors are 
 expected at the Lake Fest this year than in years past as well.

"I Am an Artist" children's art class will also take place at 9 a.m., though space is limited. Registration is
 requested at unlockedcreativity .com / iamanartist.

One notable change in this year's Sunday lineup is the absence of the long-running burnout contest on
 West Mill Street.

A free-throw contest at the basketball courts will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, and the festival closes at 3 p.m.

Volunteers are needed for all areas of the festival, with those interested asked to contact Jean E. Overmyer 

A detailed schedule of events, as well as feature stories and photos previewing the festival, will be included in 
The Culver Citizen next month.