two major festivals every year: the Popcorn Festival and the Porter County Fair. The Popcorn Festival is held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. It honors Orville Redenbacher, a former resident who built a popcorn factory there. Redenbacher participated in most of the festival's parades until his death in 1995. The festival also features foot racing events and multiple concerts in addition to typical fair activities. The Porter County Fair consists of carnival attractions and hosts a variety of shows such as a demolition derby, motocross races, and live musical performances. Public library Valparaiso has a public library, a branch of the Porter County Public Library System. Historic buildings and districts Porter County Courthouse replaced an earlier brick building in 1883. The current building is 128 feet by 98 feet. It was built with a square tower rising out of the center. The tower was 168 feet tall with a clock on each side. A fire in 1934 damaged in the interior requiring the removal of the tower. National Register of Historic Places There are a number of buildings and districts in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Conrad and Catherine Bloch House Haste-Crumpacker House Heritage Hall Immanuel Lutheran Church Dr. David J. Loring Residence and Clinic William McCallum House Charles S. and Mary McGill House Porter County Jail and Sheriff's House Porter County Memorial Opera Hall David Garland Rose House DeForest Skinner House Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District Washington Street Historic District (Valparaiso, Indiana) Parks and recreation Valparaiso has an extensive city park district. In 2005 there were 13 parks with another in the planning stages. Parks 200 East (East McCord Rd) – a community park with a playground; where many of the city's legendary athletes played football as youngsters. Football at 200 East Park is a staple for young kids growing up in the neighborhood. Bicentennial Park (Burlington Beach Road & Campbell St) – Provides a full range of activities, including a playground, basketball courts, ball diamond and picnic shelters. A prairie restoration is under way in the north half of the park. Central Park Plaza (Lincolnway and Lafayette St) – is the centerpiece of the Downtown Valparaiso revitalization and opened the summer of 2011. It has an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and other special events as well as a splash pad in the center of the park for kids to play. Fairgrounds Park