The summer is always a great time for entertainment in our area. There's always someone interesting performing on the fair and festival tour circuit.

It was a decade ago, on July 9, 1999, that actor Thomas Ian Nicholas became a familiar face of summer playing one of the gang of teenagers in the summer hit "American Pie." As Kevin, the boyfriend of actress Tara Reid's character, Nicholas also played the same role in both of the film sequels. But when he's not making movies, Nicholas stays busy playing with his four-member rock band, called (what else?) The Thomas Ian Nicholas Band ( thomasiannicholas.com).

On Wednesday, he was featured right here in the region, taking the stage at Gaucho's on U.S. 30 in Valparaiso.

"I love being back in the Chicago area," Nicholas said.

"I spent three months in Chicago back in 1992 when I filmed 'Rookie of the Year,' playing a kid who pitches for the Chicago Cubs."

Nicholas' wife, singer DJ Colette, is also from Chicago, which is one of the reasons he decided to stop through our area.

At this year's Festival of the Lakes, sponsored by Hammond Parks & Recreation, singer Randy Travis is on the main stage at Wolf Lake at 7 p.m. July 17, with opening act Nicole Jamrose. Other performers at this year's Hammond festival include Boyz II Men at 7 p.m. July 15, the Gin Blossoms, with opening act the Spin Doctors at 7 p.m. July 16, The Black Crowes with opening act History's End at 7 p.m. July 18 and Los Lonely Boys at 7 p.m. July 19. FYI: (219) 853-6378 or festivalofthelakes.com.

This year's Porter County Fair in Valparaiso, July 23 to Aug. 2, features Gary Allan, Craig Morgan and Steppenwolf. Visit portercofair.org or call (219) 462-0321. At the Lake County Fair in Crown Point, Aug. 7 to 16, it's Jason Michael Carroll on Aug. 7 and Nicole Jamrose with a free concert on Aug. 9.

This week's biggest fair entertainment announcements are from Indianapolis and the Indiana State Fair office.

It's Indiana's own Sandi Patty singing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Aug. 11, with Kelly Clarkson Aug. 14, Keith Urban Aug. 15, a dual concert by the groups Journey and Heart on Aug. 16, the Oak Ridge Boys with special guest Larry Gatlin on Aug. 19 and MC Hammer on Aug. 20.

Harry Potter Screenings

The Museum of Science and Industry has announced it will play host to the newest "Harry Potter" film,"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at the Omnimax, Chicago's only five-story, domed theater.

The Museum is the only large-format theater in Chicago to show the film on its world premiere date, and one of only three in the nation.

To kick off the film's run at the Museum, there will be four midnight screenings, beginning Tuesday night with the final screening Saturday night.

The film will also be shown multiple times daily through Sept. 27, to coincide with the run of "Harry Potter: The Exhibition."

In this sixth film, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (aka Voldemort) is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead, and Hogwarts may never be the same again. The film is rated PG and is shown in the traditional, 2-D format.

Guests to the Museum can also get the full Harry Potter experience and purchase combination tickets for the film and the exhibit, which features costumes and artifacts from the sixth movie as well as more than 200 authentic artifacts seen throughout the film series, displayed in settings inspired by the actual movie sets. The exhibit is open from 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The last exhibit entry is at 8 p.m. every night.

Tickets to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," day or evening, are $15 for adults and seniors and $13 for children 3 to 11. Visit msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

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