9 Biggest Indiana Summer Music Festivals

People who live outside of Indiana oftentimes think of it as corn and basketball. And the Indianapolis 500. The people of Indiana are much more diverse than that, even if the state is largely conservative and always Republican. The truth of the matter is, that I did a Google search for rock and roll summer festivals in Indiana and got zip, zero, nadda. Fiddles, and some great jazz, but no rock. See, I still think that Indiana is corn and basketball. Fun music? Let's see what's up this summer in Indiana.

Here are nine music festivals that make living in Indiana full of fiddles each year. Oh, and I also threw in some popcorn just for fun. I have to note here, that jazz is a considerable influence in Indiana, but is it New Orleans? Even when Indianapolis tries to put on the Indy Jazz Fest and pretends that Indianapolis had a starring role in the birth of America's only true musical genre', it's just not so. But, here we go, anyway.

1) The Elkhart Jazz Festival, located in northern Indiana- noted as the one of the premier jazz festivals in the country, this festival has taken place in mid-June for twenty years. This year, The Four Freshman, Bill Allfred's Jazz Band, and Rob Parton's JAZZTECH Big Band will appear. Attendees listen in the relaxed atmosphere - some sit in the audience and others step onto the stage and sit in the middle of jazz. Great experience.

2) The Cole Porter Summer Festival- The Cole Porter SummerFest takes place in Peru Indiana, on the east side of the state in early June. This festival glorifies the sounds and lyrics of Cole Porter, one of America's elder statesman of music.

3) The Mansfield Village Bluegrass Festival - There is nothing like Indiana Bluegrass. The Bluegrass Festival takes place in early June each year in this historic town. And each year, the Banjo and Festival contest is the central event. This culminates the 2 days of continuous bluegrass sound.

4) The Indy Jazz Fest in Indianapolis takes place in mid-June. In 1998 a small group of Indianapolis citizens decided to honor what had once been "the Avenue" the Indianapolis jazz venue for some of great jazz names of the 20th century. Here, greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis conferred with local jazz musicians and developed America's only home grown musical genre. Nine years later the 3-day event still goes strong each year honoring jazz.

5) Master Harold's Fiddlefest in downtown Greensburg, Indiana. The event takes place each year around the city courthouse. Fiddlers from around the country participate in a fiddle competition and name celebrities display their musical abilities for rapt audiences.

6) The Official Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championship 2007. The championship takes place in Princeton, Indiana. This year the event will take place in late August and early September. This is an event far beyond Master Harold's Fiddlefest. Getaway Packages are compiled for the attendees that flock to this happening each year. Categories include, Singing, Clogging, Bluegrass bands, Harmonica, Fiddle from beginning to senior, Flat Picking and Thumb Picking Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, and Hot Fiddle, along with a Fiddle Off. Wild stuff and more fun than a barrel of pigs feet.

7) Uptown Jazz and Blues Festival, located in Lafayette, Indiana. Each year in mid-August Lafayette area merchants sponsors this music-filled event. Artists such as; Uncle Buck's Mojo Box, Gordon Bonham Blues Band with Craig Brenner, and Fremont Jackson's Big Blues Band are among the many performers at this toe-tapping experience.

8) Nashville, Indiana- Not a festival, but a city not to be missed on a Friday night, if you are taking a musical tour of Indiana. The Little Nashville Opry has hosted such names as Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, Alabama, George Strait, Kenney Chessney, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash over its thirty years. This is just to name a few. Every Friday for a mere 10 dollars The Little Nashville Opry brings the finest country music from rising newcomers to Hall of Fame veterans. Go there!

9) The Bloomington Early Music Festival. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this is quite a departure from the other festivals listed here. Opera, chamber music, age-appropriate music for children of all ages, and classical symphonies, this is a regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized event for young and emerging talent. Held every year in mid- May.

10) The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival. End the summer right, in early September and attend the Popcorn Festival! Named the "Best Festival in the Region" by the The Times readers for the past 11 years. The festival is an all-star salute to Valparaiso's native Orville Redenbacher and POPCORN. The festival began 29 years ago to honor America's Popcorn King. You have to get there early the Saturday after Labor Day and just have fun from 7:am to 6:30 pm every year.

This year's theme "Popcorn Celebrates the Arts".

Indiana celebrates the arts every year. Every kind of music, except for serious rock and roll, have a place in Indiana. And every year the Saturday after Labor Day, party-goers can add a bag of popcorn, thanks to Orville Redenbacher.