HAMMOND | The city's Festival of the Lakes is under fire for its annual deficit and the diversity of featured talent.
A resolution sponsored by 6th District Councilman Homero "Chico" Hinojosa, seeks to curb spending on the festival, held annually in July at Wolf Lake Memorial Park, and it also encourages improved efforts to attract acts that appeal "to all of the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the people of the city of Hammond."
Last year, the city lost $35,000 on the festival, though without sponsorships from each of the city's six City Council members who have discretionary gaming revenue accounts, that number would have been closer to $200,000. Its previous incarnation, August Fest, was cancelled in 2000 after Park Board members said annual losses of $100,000 were too much to sustain.
Hinojosa said with the city's expected budget shortfall, Hammond no longer can afford to lose money on the festival.
"We need to tighten our belt," Hinojosa said. "We're probably going to wind up being $5 to $8 million short this year."
Having sponsored the festival through $25,000 in casino revenue last year, Hinojosa said the event does a good job of putting Hammond in the spotlight with people from around Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area.
"I'm all for the festival. I think it puts Hammond on the map," Hinojosa said. "The festival, I think, is one of the ways I think we can bring this city up."
Donna Muta, director of special events for the Hammond Department of Parks and Recreation, said booking top-level talent is the festival's largest expense, but it's also what brings in patrons. Muta said she's still working on booking acts for this year's festival, and so far has signed country musician Clint Black, rhythm and blues group En Vogue and polka band The Ampol Aires.
And while the resolution also seeks an increase in the diversity of musical acts, Muta said since it was resurrected in 2004, the festival has featured a variety of diverse acts, hosting a Latin night and polka day each year. The five-day event also sets aside special days for the disabled and senior citizens, each with unique entertainment. Still, Hinojosa maintains that with an estimated 30 percent of the city residents being Hispanic, festival organizers need to pay more attention to the growing minority.
"I think Hispanics are not getting their fair share of this festival," Hinojosa said.
The resolution is up for debate during the City Council's 8 p.m. meeting Monday at City Hall.
