Food, beer, monster trucks, demolition derbies and the '60s band The Ides of March are taking over the Porter County Fairgrounds this weekend. But what it's really all about is the Corvette.

The Midwest Corvette & Chevy Show is welcoming car and festival enthusiasts back for its 23rd annual event Saturday and Sunday in Valparaiso.

"It's fun to watch, because it's a pretty big show," said Jerry Golvidis, a Corvette enthusiast from Schererville.

"It's neat to see the beautiful Corvettes go through auction, with people bidding around $100,000 for some of them."

Hooley Car Auctions will be on hand to auction off cars on both Saturday and Sunday. The show also features a "For Sale Corral" (for sale by owner) for those looking to buy or sell a collector car.

"There's a whole field of cars for sale," Golvidis said.

Visitors also will have a chance to enter a drawing to win a Corvette and check out car vendors and swappers. The Bow Tie Display, featuring the "Best of the Best," is returning to the show following a successful run last year. This event gives spectators a chance to gawk at Chevrolets and Corvettes as they were on the showroom floor "back in the day."

The car show judging includes 43 Chevy classes and more than 120 awards.

The grandstand entertainment on Saturday features The Ides of March and its hit song "Vehicle."

Sunday's highlight is the Monster Truck Thrill Show & Demolition Derby (with free parking and a seating capacity of up to 6,000).

Golvidis, 55, a proud owner of a 1982 Corvette and veteran of many car shows throughout the region, said he's been going to the Midwest event at the fairgrounds "for the last 10 years."

"Almost all the guys I know go," he said.