The Maple City Grand Prix Block Party Was Jam Packed With Action

It was short, thanks to Mother Nature, but the Maple City Grand Prix Block Party, much like the boats that hundreds of people from Northwest Indiana came out to celebrate tonight, was a whole lot of thunderous excitement packed into the party tonight.

The event was a celebration of the Formula 1 Powerboat Race, aptly named the Maple City Grand Prix, now making its third annual stop to La Porte as part of the USF1 Powerboat Tour.

The Grand Prix racing boats lined the streets around the Herald-Argus parking lot, which was filled with revelers, food and drink vendors, games and activities for kids, and live music provided by the Elwood Splinters.

Click here to see more photos from the Maple City Grand Prix Block Party!

This year’s block party was a little bit different than previous parties before. Whereas in the last couple of years the party split its time between a water parade on Stone Lake Beach and the festivities Downtown, this year Downtown La Porte decided to just bring the whole party to one specific location; allowing guests to filter in between the party in the lot and the boats on the streets.

“This year we decided to do something different,” said Downtown La Porte Director, Thaddeus Cutler. “We put the whole party in one location and honestly the attendance has doubled this year. This is where all the action is.”

And it certainly was, as guests weaved their way through the streets of La Porte, popping into the local shops and restaurants, dodging through the boats on State Street, and occasionally taking a quick break to relax to the music or refill energy on the food.

For Matt Magnuson, General Manager of La Porte Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, who had some tricked out trucks on the streets, he told IIMM after the event that their first year sponsorship with the Grand Prix has been a great ride so far.

“This has been a very successful sponsorship so far,” Magnuson said. “I am excited to be out there this weekend and be a part of the race.”

And while the block party was a great chance for the local community to gear up for the action this weekend, it was ultimately a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate La Porte and the reemergence of its Downtown.

“This was definitely the place to be tonight in La Porte,” Cutler added, putting a perfect bow on a great evening.