Steuben County Tourism Bureau

Summerfest is taking over downtown Angola with something for everyone Saturday, Aug. 1. Browse more than 50 unique vendors, enjoy live music, watch talented artists at work, check out the classic car show and let the kids have a blast with family-friendly activities. Bring your friends, spend the day downtown and celebrate everything that makes summer in Angola so much fun!

Sand sculpture demonstrations, a decades-old tradition at Pokagon State Park, returns to the main beach this weekend. Come out to the beach Friday, July 31 through Sunday, Aug. 2 between noon and 4 p.m. to see these sand-tastic displays! Join in the fun and create your own sand sculpture Saturday between 1 and 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day. The normal gate fee of $7 per Indiana vehicle and $15 per out-of-state vehicle will be charged.

The Lake James Lavender Company is literally phenomenal.

There are approximately 6,500 lavender plants on site and the main variety is actually named Phenomenal.

The new Steuben County business, located at 3515 N. Bayview Rd., Angola, is owned by Jamie Gryder Stein and her husband Darian Stein. In the spring of 2024, after visiting lavender farms in Michigan and falling in love with the fields, Jamie and Darian began planting lavender at the Bayview Road location. “I’ve always gardened and my husband has some farming experience,” Jamie said. “We started tilling the land and the prep work was very hard-we had lots of big rocks out here.” They learned about soil health, watched hundreds of YouTube videos, put fabric down and created a tool to make the lavender rows perfectly spaced and straight. “This has been a labor of love for us as well as our property manager Jodi Blanton,” Jamie said.

Once you've taken in the beautiful lavender fields, visit the lavender lifestyle store. Inside you'll find candles, tallow creams, jewelry, soaps, sugar scrubs, body oils and a luxury sleep line. Fresh lavender bundles are sold on a cart in front of the store.

Jamie said she enjoys partnering with other local businesses. Good Times Horticulture Co. assists with the landscaping and will be creating a pollinator garden next spring while Lakeside Farm Market provides suet for the tallow creams. Various paintings by local artist Fred Doloresco are displayed in the store and prints of his recent creation featuring the lavender fields are on sale.

Plans are in the works for holiday open houses between Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as offering rental space for wedding showers and small events. Yoga and meditation classes are planned for Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. (Follow Lake James Lavender Company on Facebook for a schedule.)

The Lake James Lavender Company is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through Labor Day. Select products are available for purchase online.

“Our goal is for everyone who comes through here to leave a little more peaceful than when they arrived,” Jamie said. "Lavender brings happiness to people."

The Vermont Settlement Festival in Orland has a packed schedule full of free, family-friendly fun Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26. Come out to the Orland Town Park and celebrate Orland's designation as the birthplace of Steuben County.

The 16th Annual Lake James Antique and Classic Boat Show features approximately 60 antique boats in the water plus a variety of antique cars on land Saturday, July 25. The free event is on County Road 300 West, near the Lake James/Jimmerson Lake bridge between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Enjoy a variety of food, vendors and the sounds of The DeeBee’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will have an opportunity to paint a free homemade wooden vintage boat, fish or turtle while the Steuben Arts Scene will have a tent full of fine art for sale.

This weekend's focus is on Fremont as the 31st annual Musicfest brings various bands to the stage at Rocketship Park.

Musical entertainment Friday, July 17 includes Jim Weber and John Day between 4 and 5:30 p.m. and the night will close with a rousing performance from the Hubie Ashcraft Band. The car show starts at 4 p.m. followed by inflatables, craft vendors and food trucks.

On Saturday, July 18, the parade begins at 11 a.m. Following the parade, meet Elsa and Spiderman at Rocketship Park. Sierra Shame kicks off the music at noon followed by The Bulldogs from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Plan B performs at 4:30 p.m., while the Jessie Campbell Band starts at 7 p.m. The night ends with fireworks at the Fremont Moose. The event is sponsored by the Fremont, Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

The Wednesday Steuben County Farmers Market offers fresh vegetables, bread and donuts, plants, honey, crafts and bath products. The market is open 8 a.m. to noon every Wednesday through October at the Carnegie Public Library, 322 S. Wayne St., Angola.

Looking for more local market opportunities?

-Steuben County Farmers Market, 317 S. Wayne St., Angola, every Saturday through October from 8 a.m. to noon.

-Hamilton Marketplace, 6795 S. State Road 1, every Saturday through Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-Makers Market, West Gale Street, Angola, Saturdays through September (excludes Aug. 1) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-Elemento Night Market, downtown Angola, Friday, Aug. 28 and Friday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m.

This weekend the skies over Steuben County will be filled with colorful hot air balloons as Indiana's premier hot air balloon festival returns to Angola High School.

Nearly 30 competition balloons and five special shape balloons will delight young and old alike at Angola Balloons Aloft Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11. Flights are scheduled at approximately 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. both days, wind and weather permitting. There's also a 7 a.m. flight Sunday, July 12. The event concludes after the Sunday balloon launch. Admission and parking are free thanks to the generosity of sponsors. We're proud to be the Premier Sponsor of this 17th annual event!

The weekend is packed full of activities including a classic car show, nighttime balloon illuminations, food court, skydivers, the kids fun zone, free archery tag, music, an opportunity to meet Anna, Elsa, Bluey and Captain America plus paid helicopter rides, a community choir performing patriotic songs and more! Celebrate America's 250th birthday at this spectacular event.

Find the schedule of events: www.angolaballoonsaloft.com

It's a red, white and blue weekend in Steuben County! ❤️🤍💙

Celebrate the Fourth of July with patriotic music, parades and of course, fireworks.

The 50th Music Americana Friday, July 3 at the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts is a patriotic tribute to our city, county and country. Featuring local talent and a special tribute to veterans, this free community tradition begins at 7 p.m.

Fireworks will light up the skies over Angola, Hamilton, Crooked Lake and Lake James on Independence Day, as America celebrates 250 years.

Everyone loves a parade and Steuben County has two great ones! Angola's parade begins at 11 a.m. while Hamilton's follows at noon.

For information on area Fourth of July events plus all the other activities throughout the county, visit https://visitsteubencounty.com/events/
(Photo by Echelon1 Creative)