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This past Saturday, June 27, the City of Gary experienced a monumental resurgence of live entertainment and community pride as the Greater Gary Music Fest took over the United States Steel Yard Stadium. Marking the city’s first major music festival in decades, the free, family-friendly event delivered an unforgettable day of legendary R&B, unity, and undeniable hometown spirit.
The energy was electric from the moment the gates opened, guided by acclaimed comedian and event host Mike Epps. Representing Indiana proudly in his Indianapolis Colts gear, Epps kept the crowd going throughout the day. A powerful wave of emotion and positivity swept through the stadium as residents and visitors gathered in unity to celebrate the city's rich culture and bright future.
The star-studded lineup—featuring R&B and soul legends Angela Winbush, Eric Roberson, and Raheem DeVaughn, alongside a showcase of incredible local and regional acts—delivered world-class performances. Throughout the festival, every artist took a moment on stage to give heartfelt praise to the City of Gary, honoring its musical legacy, resilience, and the welcoming warmth of its people.
The pinnacle of the evening belonged to Gary's own hometown superstar, Deniece Williams. The legendary singer absolutely brought the house down, delivering a powerful, show-stopping performance. In a deeply moving moment on stage, Williams praised Mayor Eddie Melton for doing an outstanding job leading the city forward and thrilled the crowd by officially announcing plans to open a brand-new music academy in Gary to nurture the next generation of local talent.
"This weekend, we witnessed the true heartbeat of Gary," said Mayor Eddie Melton. "Seeing our community come together for our first major festival in decades was profoundly inspiring. The immense joy, the incredible talent on that stage, and the overwhelming pride felt throughout the stadium proves that Gary's revitalization is real and happening right now. Having a legend like Deniece Williams bless our stage, support our vision, and invest back into our youth with a new music academy is a historic win for our city. This is exactly the kind of world-class experience our residents deserve."
The City of Gary extends its deepest gratitude to every resident, visitor, vendor, and partner who came out to support and celebrate this historic milestone. We also want to extend a special thank you to the generous community partners, whose vital support made this incredible free event possible: Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Centier Bank, Haywood and Fleming Associates (HFA), NIPSCO, Along the South Shore.com, NiSource Charitable Foundation, Cintas, Cargill, Tolbert & Tolbert Attorneys At Law and the Legacy Foundation.
Thank you for making the inaugural Greater Gary Music Fest a massive success. We hope to see you all at the next one.
For future event announcements and city updates, please visit www.gary.gov.
Contact:
Steve Segura, Chief Communications Officer
City of Gary
stsegura@gary.gov
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