Summer Sounds
In less than a month, my favorite way to spend a summer evening begins again: the free summer concerts in each community.
I like to arrive early to find the perfect space in the grass to set up my lawn chair and picnic blanket, which I keep in my trunk, so I’m ready for a good time all summer. Then, I scope out the food trucks. My first choice is usually a bag of warm kettle corn to munch on or a burger and crispy fries with plenty of ketchup on the side.
The last thing to do is sit back and soak up the setting sun and the summer vibes to the tunes of a jamming cover band.
The communities of Johnson County are called Festival Country because the area just south of Indianapolis is home to more than 1,000 festivals, concerts and events each year. It is where you want to be for the best events and festivals. It’s where you’ll find your fun.
May
Summer here officially begins with the Festival Country Kickoff on May 16 in downtown Franklin. We’ll celebrate the fifth anniversary of the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater with birthday-themed fun and live music from three rocking bands from 4 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy a variety of food trucks and other activities happening around the amphitheater and Youngs Creek Park. This is the perfect time to learn about more events planned across the county this summer and fall from community partners in attendance. Bring your lawn chairs and plan to stay for hours of family fun.
June
Strawberry Festival and Handmade Market
Summer tastes like strawberry shortcake, and you can enjoy yours during Discover Old Town Greenwood’s Strawberry Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 6. Spend the afternoon browsing items from 60 handmade vendors and shopping at local businesses on Madison Avenue and Wiley Street. Family activities, including a concert and story time at the Greenwood Public Library, will occur throughout the day.
Ethos
Discover Downtown Franklin’s Ethos Celebration of the Arts is a family-friendly art festival everyone enjoys. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 27, booths on Main Street will feature a variety of artists and their work in a juried art show. Visitors can purchase original artwork directly from the artists.
Children, adults and businesses can participate in Festival Country’s Chalk the Block contest for a chance to win cash prizes. Create a chalk masterpiece in a 3-by-3-foot square in front of Wild Geese Bookshop on East Madison Street in Franklin from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Freedom Festival
One of Greenwood’s signature events, with more than 50,000 attendees each year, is Freedom Festival. It will be from 4 to 11 p.m. on June 27 at Craig Park.
The festivities begin with a patriotic parade. Throughout the evening, enjoy food trucks and relax to live music from 5:30 to 10 p.m., leading up to the much-anticipated drone show at 10:15 p.m.
July
For a week full of activities, be sure to visit the Johnson County Fair July 19-25 for familiar favorite events, games and food.
Find information about more concerts, events and festivals at the visitor center, 66 S. Water St., or at festivalcountryindiana.com/festivals-and-events.
