May 20, 2026| Community, Events
By: Kari Constantine, Event Coordinator
As I reflect on this year’s Lake Hopatcong Block Party, I feel incredibly grateful for the support, encouragement, and trust I received from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation staff, volunteers, municipalities, and government agencies who helped bring the vision to life (no matter how ambitious or crazy some of the ideas may have seemed along the way). Events like this are never the work of one person. They come together because of an entire community of people willing to collaborate, problem-solve, and work tirelessly behind the scenes to create something special for others to enjoy. I’m deeply thankful to everyone who believed in this event and helped make it happen.
For those of you who missed that sunny, beautiful day at the lake, here's a recap.
On Saturday, May 16, 5,000 people gathered at Hopatcong State Park to celebrate New Jersey’s largest lake and the incredible community that surrounds it at the 2026 Lake Hopatcong Block Party. As the event coordinator, it’s hard to put into words just how grateful I am to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a tremendous success.
From the moment the gates opened, the park was alive with energy, laughter, and community spirit. Seeing families, neighbors, local businesses, community groups, and visitors all come together to celebrate Lake Hopatcong is what makes this event so special year after year.
This event simply would not have happened without the dedication and generosity of so many people. To our sponsors, vendors, volunteers, performers, community partners, and attendees, THANK YOU. Your support, enthusiasm, and willingness to show up for this community continue to make the Block Party one of the most meaningful events on the lake each year.
The weather gave us a perfect day to enjoy the waterfront, and it was wonderful to see so many people taking advantage of everything the event had to offer. Free boat rides were once again a favorite attraction, giving guests the chance to experience the beauty of Lake Hopatcong from the water. Many thanks again to Lake Hopatcong Cruises and Bridge Marina. Also on the water, the Jefferson Fire Boat demonstrated the power and importance of having an emergency response vessel on the lake. Throughout the park, visitors explored booths featuring local businesses, nonprofits, artisans, lake-related services, and community organizations, and enjoyed games, activities, Scavenger Hunt, Passport Adventure, and interactive demonstrations.
The food court, live entertainment, "Marina Way" displays, and hands-on activities kept the excitement going all day long, and it was incredibly rewarding to see attendees of all ages smiling, exploring, and making memories together. Events like this take months of planning and coordination, and seeing the community enjoy the final result makes every bit of effort worthwhile.
A special thank-you to the many hard-working volunteers and LHF staff members who worked behind the scenes before, during, and after the event. Your hard work, flexibility, and commitment are the reasons the day runs so smoothly, and I am endlessly appreciative of everything you do.
A special thank you as well to volunteer photographers Ulla Vinkman and Bob Kays for capturing the day. A photo album from the event can be viewed HERE.
It was also wonderful to once again see the four lake towns, Hopatcong, Jefferson, Roxbury, and Mount Arlington, come together in support of this event. The collaboration and shared pride among these communities are a huge part of what makes this region so unique.
As we wrap up another successful Block Party, I’m left feeling incredibly thankful. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, supported, volunteered, sponsored, and helped spread the word. Your continued support means more than you know, and it’s what allows this event to continue growing year after year.
Thank you for being part of the 2026 Lake Hopatcong Block Party. See you in 2027!
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Avenues in Motion
Cambiotti’s Tomato Pie Café
Carousel Party and Event
FLG X Adventure Course NJ
Jefferson Dairy
Lake Hopatcong Golf Club
Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce
