The ’70s pop song “YMCA,” an anthem of campy, carefree fun, has blared from floats and walking units during the Whiting Pierogi Festival Parade for decades.
It’s an easy reason why The Village People, the song’s costumed originators of the letter-forming choreography classic, are the perfect ironic and iconic headliners for the festival’s 2016 main stage concert July 30 at Oil City Stadium.
“We reached out, and not only were they available, they were excited to be part of something described by Tripadvisor.com as ‘one of the wackiest festivals on the planet,’ “said Pierogi Festival Chairman Tom Dabertin, one of the founders who launched the festival, which celebrates its 22nd year the weekend of July 29.
The parade, live performances, plenty of silly themed events and more than 100 food booths hailing Eastern European classic cuisine ranging from pierogies and Polish sausage to pastries and stuffed cabbage draw more than 300,000 attendees to downtown Whiting every year. Information: 219-659-0292 or www.pierogifest.net.
“We work hard to keep the festival traditions alive every year while also adding something fresh, new and different,” Dabertin said.
“And this year, when it comes to music legends, The Village People have always been fun and different, and that’s a perfect fit for us and Pierogi Fest fans.”
The following are some other 2016 festivals and fun events in Northwest Indiana:
Maple City Grand Prix: June 3-5. Stone Lake and also Soldiers Memorial Park in downtown LaPorte at Grangemouth Road and Waverly Road. Free. www.maplecitygrandprix.com.
Wicker Memorial Park Summer Thursday Night Concert Series: June 16-Sept. 8. Wicker Park Social Center Gazebo, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland. $7. www.Wickermemorialpark.com.
Drum Corps International Pageant of Drums: June 26. Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St., Michigan City. $20-$25 and children 6 and younger are free. www.dci.org.
Cedar Lake Summerfest: July 1-4. Downtown Cedar Lake, 138th Place and Constitution Ave., Cedar Lake. Free admission with $5 parking. www.cedarlakesummerfest.com.
Lightning Bug Music Festival: July 5. Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso. $36 for adults and children 12 and younger are free. www.lightningbugmusicfestival.com.
Valparaiso Summer Rhapsody Thursday Nights Music Fest: July 14-Aug. 11. Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette Street, Valparaiso. Free. www.Valparaisoevents.com.
Valparaiso Food and Wine Festival: July 16. Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette Street, Valparaiso. $35-$75. www.Valparaisoevents.com.
Festival of the Lakes: July 20-24. Wolf Lake Park, 2938 S. Calumet Ave., Hammond. $25 per day admission or $60 three-day pass. www.festivalofthelakes.com.
Great Lakes Grand Prix: Aug. 4-7. Washington Park Beach, 115 Lake Shore Dr., Michigan City. Free. www.michigancitysuperboat.com.
Chesterton Art Fair: Aug. 6-7. Dogwood Park, 23rd St. and County Road 1100 North, Chesterton. $5 and children 11 and younger are free. www.chestertonart.com.
Hobart LakeFront Festival: Aug. 18-21. Festival Park, 111 E. Old Ridge Road, Hobart. Free admission. www.Cityofhobart.org.
Lubeznik Art Festival in Michigan City: Aug. 20-21. 101 W. 2nd St., Michigan City. $10 for one-day adult admission and $5 for children 4-12 with ages 3 and younger are free. www.Lubeznikcenter.org.
Kouts Pork Fest: Aug. 27. Main Street, Kouts. Free admission. www.Koutsevents.com.
Aukiki River Festival: Aug. 27-28. 1101 S. Baum’s Bridge Road, Kouts. Free admission. 219-766-2302, www.Kankakeevalleyhistoricalsociety.org.
Valparaiso Popcorn Festival: Sept. 10. Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette St., Valparaiso. Free admission. www.Valparaisoevents.com.
Philip Potempa is a freelance writer.
