(La Porte, IN) - This year’s Red Wine & Brew music festival included a second act. Friday’s headline event was followed on Saturday night with a smaller concert, as well as fireworks and a drone light show.

Pastor Dennis Meyer of Bethany Lutheran Church said it was just a convenient way to expand the sixth annual event yet again. “It was something we had sort of done during COVID,” he said. “We had two events that we planned, but we put it together this year.” With facilities already in place for the Red Wine & Brew, adding another community event was a no-brainer. And with no fireworks at the fairgrounds this year, lighting up the sky seemed like the thing to do.

Pastor Meyer said the theme of Saturday’s celebration of first responders, “Light Up the Darkness,” captured the symbolism of the event. “We wanted to do something special that hasn’t been done in our area,” he said, “and that is to have a drone show along with the fireworks, and to let people know how much we love this community. We want to tell them about God’s love, and that we love them, and that we want to support our first responders and work together to build community to make this a safe, beautiful place to live."

Meyer said about 6,500 people came out Friday night, which surpassed last year’s turnout by about 1,500. At least a couple of thousand more parked to see the fireworks and drones on Saturday.