To paraphrase an old Motown hit -- "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas -- "Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street... the park... the parking lot... and just about anywhere and everywhere else that a band can set up and plug in amps."

To paraphrase an old Motown hit -- "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas -- "Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street... the park... the parking lot... and just about anywhere and everywhere else that a band can set up and plug in amps."

Here's a brief overview of some of the bigger fests, fairs and music-saturated events around Northwest Indiana this summer and who is playing them.

Grab your dancin' shoes, baby. There is no shortage of great music to rock your way through the warm weather months.

HOBART JAYCEE FEST

WHAT: Eight nights of live music in a large asphalt beer garden.

WHEN: June 27-July 5 (closed July 4)

WHERE: Strack & Van Til's parking lot, Routes 51 & 6, Hobart

HOW MUCH: $10 for June 27, July 1 and July 5, $5 all other nights.

DETAILS: www.hobartjaycee.com

The annual "party in the parking lot" for beer aficionados and music fans at the Strack & Van Til parking lot (intersection of Routes 6 and 51) is one of Porter County's most anticipated summer events.

It has been 18 years since the Jaycees relocated their fest from behind Hobart's City Hall to the more spacious parking lot. Since then, clog dancers and wedding band-style entertainment have been replaced by a full production stage and a smattering of big-name rock acts mixed with

regional groups.

The 2008 edition opens with Southern rockers Molly Hatchet (June 27)

and continues with local blues rock groups Shuddup & Drive and C-4 (June 28);

party band The Spazmatics (June 29); Americana rockers The Waco Brothers and

Buck Daddy (June 30); national alt-rock band Local H with region cover group,

Overdue (July 1); Ozzy tribute act Believer (July 2); national alt-rock band

Cracker and local rock group Suckerpunch (July 3) and regional bands Cosmic

America and Whatzup (July 5).

PORTER COUNTY FAIR

WHAT: Ten full days/nights of rides, exhibits, midway attractions and live

music

WHEN: July 17 - July 27

WHERE: Porter County Fairgrounds, Route 49, Valparaiso

HOW MUCH: $7 adults, $3 age 16 and over, 10 and under free general gate; daily grandstand prices vary

DETAILS: www.portercofair.com

Sheep, swine and horses will have their blue-ribbon days once again as

local folks enjoy carnival rides and indulge in such Midway taste treats as

pizza, corn dogs and deep-fried Twinkies.

As always, there will be plenty of dust and mud flying around the

grandstand with a pair of smash-and-crash demolition derbies (July 23 and

July 25); a Rock & Rock Motorcycle Night (July 24); Arenacross Show (July 26 &

25); and the annual IPRA Rodeo night (July 22).

But the real buzz is about the Grandstand Concerts presented this year.

The first features country star Gretchen Wilson with regional

faves Hoosier Highway (July 18). The rest of the lineup: Kiddie icons the Doodlebops at 4 p.m. and disco icons KC & The Sunshine Band at 8 p.m. (July 19); national country artists Josh Turner and Kellie Pickler (July 20); Blues Traveler and Collective Soul (July 21).

Back on the midway will be the Radio One Free Entertainment Tent

featuring the return of "The Colgate Country Showdown" country talent search (July

20) and "Karaoke Night" (July 24). Plus regional big band Charlie Blum & The Star Orchestra (July 22); Latin variety group

Los Cordoba (July 25); country artists Shannon Raye & The Diamondback Band with

Samantha Brown (July 26); and regional rock favorite Deep River Band

(July 27). A "Bike Night" and "Classic Car Show" also will be presented (July

27).

HAMMOND'S FESTIVAL OF THE LAKES

WHAT: Five days of carnival rides and free concerts

WHEN: July 16-July 20

WHERE: Wolf Lake Memorial Park, 2938 S. Calumet Ave., Hammond

HOW MUCH: Free admission, $10 parking.

Details: www.festivalofthelakes.com or (219) 853-6378

Once again Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. and the Hammond Parks &

Recreation Department present five nights of free concerts by a variety of national and regional artists on the shores of Wolf Lake.

All concerts begin at 7 p.m.

As visitors enjoy carnival rides and an array of traditional and

ethnic food options, they will hear free music from top-shelf

entertainers. Opening up the fest will be R&B icons The O'Jays with an opening set by

local dance band, Together (July 16). Following them on the grandstand stage

over the next four nights: country act Lone Star with

John Michael Montgomery (July 17); national alt-rockers Live! with region

country/rock favorite Nicole Jamrose (July 18); alt-rock group Sugar Ray; and club faves History's End (July 19). Closing out the fest will be the Afro-Latin grooves of the legendary WAR, with special guest

Gregg Rolie formerly of Santana and Journey (July 20).

156th LAKE COUNTY FAIR

WHAT: Ten days of midway rides, food, 4-H exhibits, music and more

WHEN: Aug.1-Aug. 10

WHERE: Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court Street, Crown Point

HOW MUCH: Preview night July 31, $1; free admission before 3 p.m. weekdays; $3 adult admission and $3 parking all other times, children ages 10-15, $1, children 9 and under, free. Wristbands for midway rides: $15-$20.

DETAILS: www.lake-county-fair.com

Along with the many 4-H exhibits and Grandstand attractions like demo derbies and rodeos, this year's L.C. Fair will feature - for the

first time in years - a concert series of national music artists.

Coming to rock amid carnival rides will be red-hot band The

Plain White T's with guest A Beautiful Kaos (Aug. 1); Southern rockers Molly Hatchet (Aug.2); pop/rock heartthrob Rick

Springfield (Aug. 3); country star Blake Shelton with Nicole Jamrose (Aug.4); and "Elvis Live: A Tribute To The King," with impressionists Doug Church and Rick Saucedo plus fireworks (Aug. 5).

The Radio One Free Entertainment Tent also returns with a wide array

of musical concerts and events. Opening night is "Indiana 105 Country Night" with regional artists Scott DuBose and the 101 Ranch and Lindsay Jurek. Others: "Tribute Night" with Ozzy/Black Sabbath tribute act Blizzard Of Ozz and AC/DC tribute act Bonfire (Aug. 2); "Colgate Country Showdown" talent search (Aug. 3 and Aug. 10); WAKE-AM's "Senior Night" with big band Charlie Blum & The Star Orchestra (Aug. 4); "Karaoke Night" with radio station Z-107; Latin Rhythm Night with the Los

Cordoba Show Band (Aug. 7); "X-Rock 103.9 Bike Night" with The Deep River

Band (Aug. 8); and the second annual Battle of the Midway Bands (Aug. 9).

WICKER PARK SUMMER SERIES

WHAT: Weekly all-ages outdoor concerts in the park (weather permitting)

WHEN: Every Thursday through September 25

WHERE: Wicker Memorial Park, Ridge Road & US 41, Highland

HOW MUCH: $7 (except Eddie Money's show, $20)

DETAILS: www.diningsolutions.com or (219) 923-3830

This is the first year for this new "Summer Concert Series" (presented by North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan and Dining Solutions of Wicker Park) and the line-up of talent is quality and affordable, giving entire families

the chance to see some top club attractions for

budget-friendly prices under the stars.

The series began three weeks ago and continues this Thursday with

Hairbangers Ball, a tribute to "hair metal" groups of the 1980s like Poison, Motley

Crue and Bon Jovi. If you miss 'em this week, they're returning (July 31).

The schedule to follow: Rock/pop group Mike & Joe (June 26 and

Aug. 14); Jimmy Buffett tribute act Gone 2 Paradise (July 3); progressive-rock cover band ARRA (July 10); Chicago's No. 1 party-rock cover band Maggie Speaks (July 17); variety pop group Final Say! (July 24); costumed-cover band Libido Funk Circus (Aug.7); '80s tribute act 16 Candles

(Aug. 21); variety rock/pop group, Wedding Banned (Aug.28); Southern rockers

Slamabama (Sept. 4); U2 tribute act, Elevation (Sept. 11); national hit-maker

Eddie Money (Sept. 12); region country/rocker Nicole Jamrose Band (Sept. 18);

and region rockers Crawpuppies (Sept. 25)

Email Tom Lounges at beatboss@aol.com