powerboat racing michigan city indiana

• August 19, 2024

Powerboat Racing Thrills, Exciting Family Fun Mark 15th XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix

• May 9, 2024

Sleek powerboats in brilliant colors zoom across Lake Michigan waters in a blast of spray while spectators on shore burst into thundering cheers. It’s fast. It’s fascinating. It’s fun. And it’s FREE! Welcome to the highlight of summer in Northern Indiana – The  XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix  in Michigan City. 

The whole family will love this fabulous week-long event, set for July 30-August 4 this year. Organizers plan a host of activities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the award-winning extravaganza on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Naturally, the race itself is the top draw, featuring some of the world’s most powerful and fastest boats racing over the Great Lake’s ever-challenging waters at speeds nearing 200 miles per hour. A record number of race teams are expected this year. 

Get psyched for so much more in addition to racing thrills. Visitors will enjoy the bigger-than-ever boat parade and block party, live entertainment every day, festival food and drink, family activities, and a golf outing. Race enthusiasts get to meet the drivers too.

So set your sights on Michigan City and the best Race Week ever. The community is loaded with great lodgings, restaurants, and additional summer activities, so vacationers can plan a big summer trip filled with Grand Prix racing, special events, and enjoyment galore.

exciting launch

The Big Race happens at the end of this exciting week (see details below), but music, food, VIP events, and golf launch the festivities. Get in on the very first event Tuesday, July 30, at the Meet & Greet Racers Party, welcoming the racers and their families. Food and alcohol will be on hand. The next three days are filled with the official Ribbon Cutting, First Friday on Franklin Street, and free music in the evenings (Thursday, August 1: Rockdogs at the Sunset Grille and Aftermath playing classic rock and country at Washinton Park Beach; Friday, August 2: The Bones with classic rock, also at the beach). 

Terrific Tee-off

Break out those clubs Wednesday, July 31, for a fun foursome on the Michigan City Municipal Golf Course. The outing includes all drinks, lunch, prizes, and an afterparty. Proceeds go to the Michigan City Emergency Management volunteers, who are key in putting on the Grand Prix. 

go big - go vip

Love those extras with plenty of food and drink! The public is invited to the special events for a charge. They include the VIP Party at the Sunset Grille Thursday, August 1, and Brunch on the Boardwalk both Saturday and Sunday (August 3 and 4). Purchase tickets online at  www.eventbrite.com .

here comes the Big parade and party

Seeing the Grand Prix’s stunning powerboats parade down Franklin Street will take your breath away! They regally float by, so colorful and so BIG when viewed this close. The parade starts at 6pm Saturday, August 3, but there’s a whole day of fun before that amazing display, including races (see below). Best of all, everything except food, drink, and some games and rides are FREE!

Here’s what’s on tap for the day at the park and downtown: 

• Vintage Car Show
• Block Party – It’s bigger than ever with carnival rides, giant games, zoo petting, a bags tournament, Middle of the Road band music, and more. At the free Kids Zone, youngsters will love the caricature artists, face painting, balloon twisting, and games. For the adults: a bar and cigar lounge (21 and over), plus arcade games. 
• Music – Point’n Fingers play classic rock at the Washington Park Beach from 7 to 11pm.

finally - the races are on

Head for the shore and grab your spot at Washington Park Beach (see below for shuttle info) for the highlight of Race Week – the races! This spectacular, free show takes place from 10am to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4. Talk about bigger than ever – some 65 to 75 race teams are expected to compete in 12 classes, with a full slate of racing each day. Some preliminary races will take place on Saturday, but there will be a full slate of qualifying races both days. To wrap up the week, Soul Shine will play at Sunset Grill at 4pm Sunday. 

schedule details

Tuesday, July 30

• 5pm – Meet & Greet Racers Party at Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity

Wednesday, July 31

• 11am – Golf Outing registration at Michigan City Municipal Golf Course
• Noon – Golf Outing – Shotgun start
• 5pm – Golf Awards & Afterparty at Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity

Thursday, August 1

• 5:30pm – Ribbon Cutting at Sunset Grille
• 6-8pm – VIP Party at Sunset Grille
• 6-9pm – RockDogs playing at Sunset Grill
• 7-11pm – Aftermath playing at Washington Park Beach

Friday, August 2

• Noon-10pm – Food Court Open
• 5-8pm – First Friday on Franklin – Downtown Michigan City
• 7-11pm – The Bones playing at Washington Park Beach

Saturday, Aug. 3

• 8am-3pm – Four A’s Vintage Car Show
• 9am-10:30pm – Free parking/shuttle Service at Blue Chip Hotel; Semi Lot along Highway 12
• 9am-10pm – Food Court Open
• 9am-4pm – VIP Tent Open on Washington Park Boardwalk; 10am-2pm Brunch Served
• 10am-4pm – Boat Racing
• 11am – National Anthem
• Noon-10pm – Block Party – Downtown Michigan City
• 6-8pm Boat Parade – Franklin Street from 9th to 4th streets
• 7-11pm – Point’n Fingers playing at Washington Park Beach

Sunday, Aug. 4

• 9am-4:30pm – Free parking/shuttle Service at Blue Chip Hotel; Semi Lot along Highway12
• 9am-5pm – Food Court Open
• 4pm – Soul Shine playing at Sunset Grille

For more information on Race Week, go to:  GreatLakesGrandPrix.com

getting around is a breeze

On both Saturday and Sunday, free parking and shuttle service are available at the Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa; Semi Lot along Highway 12. Free shuttle drops off and picks up at Washington Park and includes a 7th/Washington Street stop during the Block Party/Parade. There is a parking fee if festivalgoers park at Washington Park. See  emichigancity.com  for fees.  

Don't-miss Vacation tips

Plan a vacation around the Big Race Week in Michigan City, where sandy beaches and Lake Michigan waters invite summer adventures. 

Washington Park –  This outstanding park and beach might be packed on race days, but come early or stay an extra day or two to enjoy its many pleasures when the crowds diminish. A two-mile stretch of primo sand invites swimming, sunning, and beachcombing – an ideal place to while away a few hours or a full day (No pets allowed). The beach is backed by a shady 99-acre park with picnic tables, grills, shelters, and concessions. While you’re there:

Walk the pier – Get a closeup look at the 1904 East Light, Indiana’s only working lighthouse. 

Stroll and work out – Benches dot wooden walkways and sandy paths near the beach. Try out the fitness trail in the park.

Let the Kids Splash – Children frolic in the sprays and fountains at Oasis Splash Pad.  

Visit the Washington Park Zoo – Adjacent to the park, some 90 creatures make their homes here in natural habitats. 

See the Old Lighthouse Museum – Learn about lake history in this beautifully restored 1858 lighthouse and climb to the lantern room.

Lubeznik Center for the Arts – Right next to Washington Park, this art center features a high-quality, changing exhibition schedule in four galleries plus a collection of outdoor artworks.  

Vacations find plenty of options for overnight and longer stays in Michigan City and nearby LaPorte,  including boutique hotels, name-brand lodgings, and private rentals. Here are some options:

Private rentals – Connect with private cottage and vacation home owners through rental agencies such as Beachwalk Resort and Rentals in Michigan City, VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) and Airbnb (Air Bed and Breakfast). 

Blue Chip Casino, Hotel, Spa – Posh hotel rooms and suites in this well-known casino with several restaurants and 24/7 gaming.  

Brewery Lodge and Supper Club – A 12-suite boutique hotel secluded on a 40-acre wooded tract with a restaurant, craft beer, and wine bar.

4411 Inn and Suites – Comfortable suites with a fresh, modern look, ranging from king to three-bedroom. 

Bridge Inn – Contemporary lodgings with private sitting rooms, within walking distance of Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District.  

Name-Brand Hotels – Of course, your favorite name-brand hotels are available too. See Listing  Here .

Whatever you prefer, there’s an amazing array of special places to lay your head each night. 

Thanks to all the Sponsors for your continued support which makes the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix possible as well as a premier and exciting event!

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Michigan City’s Grand Prix Announces Exciting Summer Schedule

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Michigan City, IN (May 23, 2022) - The 13th Annual Award-Winning Great Lakes Grand Prix, featuring some of the world’s fastest and most exciting powerboat racing, will be back August 3-7 at Michigan City’s Washington Park, it was announced today by Jack L. Arnett, CEO of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The event will again present teams from all seven continents racing across the waters of Lake Michigan in some of the world’s fastest powerboats, reaching speeds nearing 175 miles per hour. Along with the boat races, Arnett announced other weekend highlights – the downtown Boat Parade and Block Party on Saturday night and the Taste of Michigan City on both Friday and Saturday. Throughout the weekend, guests enjoy walking through Washington Park and chatting with owners, racers, and team members. Live entertainment, food and souvenir vendors, and family activities add to the fun.

The races are a stop on the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) annual race circuit, in which powerboat crews fight for national and world championships. In addition to the OPA’s involvement, Arnett also announced a new sponsor. “We are especially happy to announce Play Tradez as our 2022 Title Sponsor,” Arnett said. Play Tradez is a New York-based trading company that shares their algorithmic formulas and trading strategies with their subscribers through their registered investment advisors, he added.

“Bringing Play Tradez on board adds a new level of exposure for the race and certainly gives Play Tradez the ability to extend their brand across the country, as our race continues to lead the circuit in popularity,” Arnett said.

Organizers are gearing up for a full schedule in addition to the races and parade that includes Washington Park beach parties with live music, a vintage car show, a bags tournament, and a golf outing. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of free parking on Saturday and Sunday at Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St. with shuttle service provided. Overflow parking will be available at 1501 Wabash St . (the former St. Anthony Hospital parking lot). Several VIP events, including an opening party at Sunset Grille on Thursday and brunch Saturday and Sunday at the VIP tent on the Washington Park Boardwalk are planned. VIP tickets are in high demand, Arnett said, so extra tickets have been added.

Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry expressed enthusiasm about the annual event, saying, “The Great Lakes Grand Prix is such an important part of our special events calendar. Our community embraces our offshore powerboat friends, and I personally enjoy visiting with all the teams.”

“We celebrate the positive impact this event has on our local economy.” Parry added.

A report released by the CVB shows that the Grand Prix definitely continues to be an economic boom to Michigan City, with last year’s event setting a new record for both attendance and earnings. Out-of-town visitors contributed nearly $17.7 million to LaPorte County’s economy in 2021, compared to $13.6 million for the 2019 event, according to the report, prepared for the LaPorte County CVB by Certec Inc., a marketing analysis group based in Lexington, Kentucky. (The Grand Prix was not held in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.) In addition, local residents spent a total of $675,164 at the event.

Out-of-town visitors came from 12 different states, with about one-third visiting for the first time. Their spending generated $46 million in tax revenues, with $915,300 of that going to local government. Jobs generated by the Grand Prix provided more than $3.9 million in wages to LaPorte County workers. Food, beverage, shopping, and transportation accounted for 75 percent of expenditures.

Total attendance during the four-day celebration reached 249,400, easily topping the 2019 attendance of 190,000. Park attendance was 80,000 on Saturday and 90,000 on Sunday. The Taste of Michigan City drew a total of 30,000 visitors.

The report notes that tourism is a key component of the LaPorte County economy, and visitors to the Grand Prix took advantage of their time here by visiting destinations such as the Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa, the Washington Park Zoo, wineries, breweries, museums, and beaches.

The CVB also noted that the Michigan City AquaX Grand Prix jet ski races will take place July 9-10 at Washington Park. The LaPorte LakeFest AquaX Grand Prix jet ski races will be held July 30-July 31. 

For more information on the Aug. 3-7 Grand Prix, schedules, and shuttle service, as well as the Michigan City AquaX Grand Prix and LaPorte LakeFest AquaX Grand Prix, go to www.GreatLakesGrandPrix.com .

VIP tickets for the Grand Prix may be purchased by going to www.eventbrite.com/great-lakes-grand-prix-tickets .

Visit Michigan City Laporte

Great Lakes Grand Prix underway in Michigan City

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WNDU) - If speedboats that look like spaceships are your jam, the Michigan City lakefront is the place to be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

The Offshore Powerboat Association’s “Great Lakes Grand Prix” is underway. The racing takes place on Saturday and Sunday, but there are a slew of activities taking place between now and the weekend.

Thursday saw the arrival of the race boats, each looking more like Luke Skywalker’s X-wing Starfighter than a motorboat.

Race Director Scott Miller encourages fans to meet the racers.

“I’ve had the pleasure of hosting this event for 15 years, well 14 years. This will be our fifteenth. And it’s gotten bigger and bigger and bigger, and the racers are extremely friendly,” Miller said. “This is probably the most fan-friendly event that you could probably go to. They’re excited to be here just as much as we’re excited to have them here.”

Miller said that roughly 70 boats and associated race teams from five continents will be racing this weekend. The lightning-fast vessels will navigate a course right along the Michigan City lakefront.

The event has been characterized by an outsized fan turnout each year, with more than 200,000 maritime gear heads lining the lakefront.

For more information on the Great Lakes Grand Prix, click here .

Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.

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MICHIGAN CITY: 222 Offshore, Instigator Win Their Classes

The 11th annual Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, IN, concluded with its fourth OPA/P1 race of the day as four ClassONE USA competitors and two Vee Extreme boats capped off a competition that boasted the highest boat count fans have seen in recent memory.

222 Offshore , with driver Darrin Nicholson and throttleman Giovanni Carpitella , grabbed the lead early on and stayed way out in front to take the unofficial win. Meanwhile, Miles Jennings and Steve Curtis took their Miss Geico boat—the former Zabo Racing entry— to the second-place position, while Victory Team (with Salem Al Adidi and Else Al Ali ) finished third.  

Lucas Oil SilverHook , with owner/throttleman Nigel Hook and driver Jay Johnson , suffered a mechanical issue toward the end of the race and did not finish.

Meanwhile,  Ed Smith and Anthony Smith in Knucklehead Instigator prevailed in Vee Extreme class over Brit Lilly and Kevin Smith in Tug It.  However, earlier in the day, Lilly and Smith were victorious in their ProStock Vee competitor, LSB Hurricane of Awesomeness.  

The sixth and final race of the APBA Offshore Championship series, a combined effort between OPA and Powerboat P1, is scheduled for Oct. 10 in Fort Myers, FL. This race will comprise the OPA National Championships.

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Powerboat Race Week Begins Today

Posted July 30, 2024 10:03am by Stan Maddux

(Michigan City, IN) - Events leading up to the 15 th annual Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City begin today.

A “Meet & Greet Racers Party” is scheduled at 5 p.m. at the Phi Delta Fraternity at 401 Alfred Ave.  There will be hors d’oeuvres provided and cash bar available.

Jack Arnett, Executive Director of the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said attendance during the race and all of the race related events, combined, has exceeded 200,000 in some of the previous years.  Arnett said the power boat racing is the largest event in the region and has been recognized more than once statewide.

“A couple of those years we actually won the award for the best event in the state of Indiana and that’s twice,” he said.

The racing is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

For a complete listing of all the race related events, click here to be directed to the event website.

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XINSURANCE GREAT LAKES GRAND PRIX 2024

July 31 - august 4.

See the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore boats dash and splash along the southern edge of Lake Michigan, visible from Washington Park beach and shoreline. Meet boat owners, racers and team members staged throughout Washington Park. This free, action-packed weekend boasts a boat parade, block party, live entertainment, family activities, festival food and drinks and the ultimate in power-boat racing.

Stay tuned for the daily schedule which will be released later this year.

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