LakeFest 2023 schedule of events
Theme: Life is Great at LakeFest
Friday, May 19 - Saturday, May 20, 2023
Chipley Park, Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida
LakeFest is an annual festival in DeFuniak Springs, Florida celebrating safe, recreational activities for the entire family on the water and banks of beautiful Lake DeFuniak, one of the world’s rare, naturally round spring-fed lakes. The 2023 event is comprised of a fish fry, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, hilarious Cardboard Boat Races, and the thrill of watching hydro-flight athletes performing for the crowds. There will be live entertainment, waterslides, a dunking booth, and many other activities in the Kids Zone, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, educational vendors, and exhibits, and the 2023 LakeFest Car Show "Under the Oaks" sponsored by Krewe de Yak. The 2023 program will include overnight primitive camping for those who sign up in advance for an event or who are vendors, sponsors, and educational booth hosts. Personal paddle craft welcomed! Paddle craft will need to be unloaded and the vehicle removed from the Lakeyard by 8:30 a.m. Canoe and kayaks will be available for $10.00. A hold harmless form must be signed by the renter. All Lucky Ducks on the water must be turned in at the canoe and kayak rental booth. Only one duck per person. All winners must be present to win and winners will be announced at the amphitheater at 2:15 p.m.
Friday, May 19, 2023
11:00 a.m. V.F.W. Post 4437 LAKEFEST FISH FRY- Fish, Fries, Beans, Coleslaw, and Hushpuppies - $12.00
12:00 p.m. Primitive tent camping - set-up begins - Circle Drive
3:00 p.m. Vendor Setup Begins - Vendors can set up between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
** 7th Street to Live Oak Road - CLOSED between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. **
5:00 p.m. Food Vendors Open
Disc Golf Opens
5:30 p.m. Live Entertainment - Crews Wright
6:30 p.m. Live Entertainment - Lakeyard Saints
7:30 p.m. Live Entertainment - Andy Avery
9:00 p.m. LakeFest concludes until Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
** ROAD CLOSURE starts at 6 a.m. ALL of Circle Drive and West to 7th Street **
7:00 a.m. Artists/Vendor Market check-in, Live Oak Avenue and Circle Drive
8:00 a.m. Check-in for the LakeFest Car Show and the Tractor Show – 7th Street and Circle Drive
8:00 a.m. Farmers Market- Baldwin Avenue between 7th Street & 8th Street
9:00 a.m. Events & Activities area:
Opening Ceremonies - Amphitheater Stage
Welcome and Invocation - Mayor Bob Campbell
Present the Colors - Walton High School Air Force Junior ROTC
Post the Colors - Walton High School Air Force Junior ROTC
Pledge of the Allegiance
National Anthem - Andy Avery
Introduction of 2023 LakeFest Queens
Introduction of 2023 DeFuniak Springs Queens
Introduction of 2023 Walton County Queens
LakeFest Officially Opens
Cardboard Boat Registration Begins
Tractor Show Opens
Disc Golf Opens
9:30 a.m. Live Entertainment – Crews Wright - Amphitheater Stage
10:00 a.m. Events & Activities by area:
Walton County Heritage Museum, Circle Drive, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Caboose opens for tours, Circle Drive, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lucky Duck Hunt for the Children - At the Walton County Heritage Museum
2023 LakeFest Car Show and Public Voting (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Circle Drive, Under the Oaks at Chipley Park near the amphitheater
Lucky Duck Hunt on the Water - Lake DeFuniak – 1 duck per person-
turn in duck at Kayak & Canoe Rental tent behind amphitheater -winners
will be announced at 2:15 p.m. on the amphitheater stage.
10:30 a.m. Cardboard Boat Registration - Ends
11:00 a.m. Events & Activities by area:
Live Entertainment – Joey Shaling -Amphitheater Stage
12:00 p.m. Events & Activities by area:
Cardboard Boat Competition Begins, Circle Drive, Lake DeFuniak
12:30 p.m. Live Entertainment – Martin McDaniel Band – Amphitheater Stage
1:00 p.m. Events & Activities by area:
1:30 p.m. Early Lineup – Parade Early Lineup can begin (turn on Bruce Avenue and follow signs)
2:00 p.m. Events & Activities by area:
Live Entertainment - Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe
2:15 p.m. Award Presentations:
Car Show
Lucky Duck Winners
Live Entertainment continues with Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe
2:30 p.m. Lineup and staging for the parade (turn on Bruce Avenue and follow signs)
3:00 p.m. LakeFest Parade - Circle Drive, clockwise direction beginning at Hubbard Street
Narrated by Andy Avery
3:30 p.m. Live Entertainment continues with Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe
4:30 p.m. LakeFest wraps up for another year! – We hope you have enjoyed your day and we
look forward to seeing you at LakeFest 2024!!
Vendors may continue to sell after 4:30 p.m. but MUST vacate the premises by 7:00 p.m. and have their areas cleaned and free from all trash. Thank you.
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Noon: Camping concludes
All primitive campers should leave their campsites clean and vacate by noon.
Be safe going home and we hope to see you at LakeFest 2024!
