Posted: June 23, 2009

A summer evening with friends, food and music on the beach is what organizers say the first Muskego Lions Lake Fest will be. It will be held from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Idle Isle Park at Little Muskego Lake.

The band Alter Ego will play its brand of top 40/mild rock for the crowd as families sit back and watch the sun set over the lake.

"The biggest thing we're trying to do is take advantage of the summer weather on the lake and add music to it," said Scott Lago, who is event co-chairman, along with Ken Bitter.

Some lucky folks will go home with big choice portions of meat for practically a song. Forty-pound pork tenderloins will go for the price of a raffle ticket, probably $5.

The Lions purposely kept food prices affordable to families, with the burgers and brats going for $3, hot dogs for $2 and an 8-ounce strip steak sandwich for $6.

"It will be seen as a family event, a good time," said Steve Whittow, a planning committee member. "Families can grab some food and hear a little music on the beach."

Those who can stay up longer can visit with friends, he said.

The band will perform from 6 p.m. until 8 or 8:30 p.m., he said. Alter Ego, which also will play this year at the Muskego Community Festival in August, is middle of the road musically, Whittow said. "Because we're going to have all ages there," he explained.

"It's mainly something for people to do who don't want to go to Summerfest," added co-chairman Bitter. "It's for people who want to sit around with some food and friends."

"We will have as many raffles as we can," he said, and there will be a boat display.

"We are hoping to establish it and do more next year," he said. Already, organizers are thinking about raffling off dinner cruises on pontoon boats, he said.

The Lions are somewhat taking their lead from the Little Muskego Lake Fest that ran for roughly a decade on the lake in July, he said. That lake association festival, ending sometime in the 1990s, had some rides and crowned a Little Miss Muskego Lake and a Little Mister Muskego Lake, winners of a talent contest, he said.

"We aren't on that scale yet," Bitter said.

Parking and admission will be free and boaters are welcome to come in from the lake.

If you go

What: Muskego Lions Club Lake Fest

When: 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday

Where: Idle Isle Park, S6666 Hardtke Drive

Admission: Free

For more info: Visit muskegolions.com/lakefest09