Friday, May 19 - Sunday, May 21, 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, kayak, paddleboards, hilarious Cardboard Boat Races, the Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge, and the thrill of watching hydro-flight athletes performing for the crowds. There will be live entertainment, waterslides, a dunking booth, and many other kids activities in the Kids Zone, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, educational vendors and exhibits, and the 2023 LafeFest 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.
Friday, May 19, 2023
9:00 a.m. Primitive tent camping set-up begins -Circle Drive
11:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. - LAKEFEST FISH FRY- Fish, Fries, Beans, Coleslaw, and Hushpuppies
5:00 p.m. Entertainment in the Moonlight - Circle Drive
****Please note - there are no merchandise sales on May 19th****
Saturday, May 20, 2023
7:00 a.m. Triathlon- Begins behind the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood at the boat ramp.
7:00 a.m. Artists/Vendor Market check-in, Live Oak Avenue and Circle Drive
8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. check-in for 2023 LakeFest Car Show - NE Corner of East Main Ave and Circle Drive
8:00 a.m. -Noon Farmers Market- Baldwin Avenue between 8th Street & 9th Street
8:00 a.m. Registration for all water sports competitions begins
9:00 a.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- OPENING CEREMONIES
- Welcome and Invocation - Mayor Bob Campbell
- Introduction of 2023 LakeFest Queens, DeFuniak Springs Queens, and Walton County Queens
- Walton County Heritage Museum, Circle Drive, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
- LakeFest Officially Opens
10:00 a.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- 2023 LakeFest Car Show and Public Voting (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) Begins at NE Corner of E. Main and Circle Drive at Chipley Park
- Cardboard Boat Registration - Begins
10:30 a.m.
- Cardboard Boat Registration - Ends
- Lucky Duck Hunt on the Water, Lake DeFuniak
- Watersport Demonstrations, by Ben Merrell, Lake DeFuniak
11:00 a.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- Live Entertainment - The Mulligans - Sing
12:00 p.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- Cardboard Boat Competition Begins, Circle Drive, Lake DeFuniak
1:00 p.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- LIVE ENTERTAINMENT - The Mulligans - Sing
2:30 p.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- AWARD PRESENTATIONS :
- Car Show
- Cardboard Boat Races
- Luck Duck Winners
- LIVE ENTERTAINMENT - The Mulligans - Sing
3:00 p.m. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES by area:
- LakeFest Parade Circle Drive, Line-up/staging on East Main Street (look for signs)
5:00 p.m. LakeFest wraps up for another year! - Hope you have enjoyed your day and we will see you at LakeFest 2024!!
- Vendors may continue to sell after 5:00 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 campers should have their campsites clean and vacated by noon.