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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/0...c3663934010.txt

In-Water Boat Show to add RV show to the mix

By Ilene Haluska
Staff Writer
Published: Monday, June 11, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — When the Progressive Insurance Michigan City In-Water Boat Show comes to town in August, visitors will also get to see new recreational vehicles.

“Hopefully this show will bolster the boat show,” said Michigan City Live Productions President Mike Dempsey at the Michigan City Parks Board Thursday when he presented information about the event. He said that he was just presenting the concept of the event and would provide complete information to the board later. The board approved the concept as well as waived fees for the event.

“I love this, I’m in favor of this,” said Park Board member Bryant Dabney, who moved to approve the concept and waive first-time fees.

Dempsey said he and Parks Superintendent Jan Orlich had the idea of combining the In-Water Boat Show with an RV show as a way of adding new events featuring Washington Park and the lakefront. The combined events reportedly work in Chicago and helped declining attendance for the boat show, Dempsey said.

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Jason Miller, of the La Porte County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, told park board members he believes that it could also bring people to see other areas of the lakefront and the Washington Park Zoo. “We’re going to put a lot of our efforts into this,” Miller said.

Dempsey said that by adding the RV show to the Boat Show, as many as 7,000 to 10,000 visitors could be expected over the four-day weekend. Extra parking would be available at the Senior Center and Fedders Alley parking lots. The shows are set for Thursday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Aug. 26.

According to the Michigan City Port Authority website, the Progressive Insurance Michigan City In-Water Boat Show was first held 33 years ago. It has grown into one of the largest in-water events on the Great Lakes.

Michigan City Live Productions is a non-profit recently created and headed by Dempsey, along with Atley Price, vice president. Former Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie serves as its secretary and Louis Webber is treasurer.

Price told the board that the new organization is in the “exploratory stage” of planning other events. Oberlie added, “Our objective is to have big scale events” or entertainment featuring Washington Park and its facilities.