ROXX FEST 2026
recap
Roxx Fest returned to Portage, Indiana for a two day festival full of good times and even better music. Vendors, beer gardens, bull riding and more are just a few of the experiences that were offered. Two stages, one for local musicians and the other for the main acts, kept the entertainment going all throughout the day and even late into the night! Both days brought an array of music that catered towards the rock loving, “it was never a phase” fans while making sure the festival was fun for the whole family.
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Friday
Diamente kicked off the main stage and the festival with her sparkly outfit and vocals that were to die for! While her performance was incredible, her personality truly was what struck me. After her set, she took the time to meet fans and sign autographs. Seeing how happy her fans were to meet her was so heartwarming. She truly set the tone for such a fun weekend. Following her kick-ass performance, Hinder brought the divorced dad rock to the stage next. While fans may have been cooking in the sun, that didn’t stop them from having a great time and screaming Lips Of An Angel at the top of their lungs. As we got later into the day, the anticipation for Skillet and Daughtry was palpable.
As someone that has listened to Skillet for a long time but never seen them live, I was extremely impressed with their stage presence! I didn’t realize the female singer, Jen Ledger, was also an absolutely insane drummer. Their show was so much fun and the crowd truly brought the energy.
It was finally time for the legendary Daughtry. With flames blazing, an incredible band, and a voice that can command the entire crowds attention, the performance was one for the books! Seeing Daughtry is always a pleasure and I swear they get better every show. I think my favorite part was when he brought out the acoustic guitar and played portions of songs of his first album like Waiting For Superman. All in all, day one of Roxx Fest was super fun and I was ready to return for the next day of rock!
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Saturday
Welcome to day 2 of Roxx Fest! Kicking off the main stage was one of my all time favorites, We The Kings. Nothing describes pop punk like one of the all time icons of the early 2000’s. As always, they make sure to get the crowd moving and having fun while putting on a great performance! Next up was the Ohio legends, Hawthorne Heights. I noticed throughout the crowd, so many people had When We Were Young festival shirts on and it completely made sense! You didn’t grow up emo if you don’t understand what Ohio is for Lovers means. Then of course, Bowling For Soup brought the comedy and the music. This was my first time seeing them live and I didn’t realize how funny they were. The crowd interaction was off the charts, while they also sounded exactly like they did 20 years ago. I was definitely impressed!
It was time for the final performance of the festival, Simple Plan. As a long time listener and fan, I can confidently say that they always put on such a fun show. Between the pyrotechnics, the giant beach balls, streamers, and an entire group of people in Scooby Doo onesies, everyone had an absolute blast!
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final thoughts
It’s not often that Indiana gets a lineup like this. Especially in Portage! Between the vendors, the bands, and the people, I had a great time. I’m excited to see what next year’s festival will bring!
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