Bonfires on the beach. Live music at two lakefront venues. A boat parade gliding through the harbor at sunset. Families building giant sandcastles. Kids laughing in a foam party. That’s what awaits visitors when LakeFest returns to Kenosha on Saturday, August 22.
Now in its fourth year, LakeFest has grown into one of Kenosha’s signature summer celebrations, expanding across Celebration Place at HarborPark and the Kenosha Beach House on Simmons Island. The festival invites residents and visitors alike to spend the day enjoying the city’s beautiful lakefront with live entertainment, food trucks, local vendors, beach games, community activities, and spectacular Lake Michigan views.
Visitors are encouraged to experience both venues throughout the day using a special City of Kenosha trolley connecting HarborPark and the Beach House.
Two Destinations. One Great LakeFest.
Celebration Place at HarborPark will feature food trucks, community organizations celebrating Kenosha’s waterfront, local arts, craft, and jewelry vendors, a beer tent, and live performances by the Sipos & Young Band, Haley Klinkhammer, and country outlaw artist – Darryl Markette. As evening approaches, it becomes one of the best places in Kenosha to watch the annual Boat Parade as decorated boats cruise through the harbor and prove how beautiful Kenosha is.
Just minutes away, the Kenosha Beach House offers a day filled with family fun including a Foam Party, Water Tug-of-War, a Community Sandcastle Build, delicious food and beverages, local vendors, and live entertainment from Duke Otherwise and Roger That. As the sun sets, the celebration continues with an 80s Glow Party featuring DJ D’Lux, beach campfires, and a large community bonfire.
“LakeFest is about celebrating everything that makes Kenosha’s lakefront so special,” said Meryl Strichartz, LakeFest organizer and long-time Kenosha Community Sailing Center board member. “Whether you’re watching the boat parade, listening to incredible local musicians, building a sandcastle with your family, paddling on the harbor, or gathering around a beach bonfire at sunset, we hope people leave with magical memories and an even deeper appreciation for Lake Michigan. When people experience the lake firsthand, they naturally begin to care for it, protect it, and share it with future generations.”
Presented by the Kenosha Community Sailing Center
LakeFest is presented by the Kenosha Community Sailing Center, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting people of all ages with Lake Michigan through recreation, education, water safety, and stewardship. They always welcome volunteers and sponsors to help them get people to discover and enjoy Kenosha’s greatest natural treasure. In the summer, KCSC offers sailing instruction, kayak, paddleboard, pedal boat, and aqua trike rentals. Then in the winter, they offer youth programs, boat-building workshops, and water safety outreach.
Admission to LakeFest is free.
Event Hours
|
Venue |
Hours |
|
Celebration Place at HarborPark |
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
|
Kenosha Beach House |
12:00 p.m. – Late Evening |
A complimentary City of Kenosha trolley will connect both venues throughout the day. Visitors are also encouraged to use Kenosha Cab for convenient transportation to and from the festivities.
About the Kenosha Community Sailing Center
The Kenosha Community Sailing Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people of all ages with Lake Michigan through recreation, education, water safety, and stewardship. Since 2008, KCSC has inspired thousands of residents and visitors to discover one of Wisconsin’s greatest natural resources through sailing, paddlesports, educational programs, and community events.