Summertime fun for all

With summer classes concluding in a few weeks, many are seeking some much-needed peace and relaxation before the fall semester begins.\nDespite the hundreds of missed city parades and annual downtown gatherings that occurred in June and July, numerous summertime festivals are planned by Hoosier communities across the state during August. From a sweet corn festival in Oakland City, Ind., to the annual popcorn festival in Van Buren, students can travel throughout Indiana this month in search of craft booths, beer tents and glass factory tours.\n"Everybody really looks forward to the Germanfest each year. It is part of our town's heritage -- the city of Vincinnes was settled by Germans even though we have a French name," said 33rd Annual Knox County Germanfest founder Ralph Ruppel, whose event attracts about 3,500 people each year for Bavarian food and drink. "It is one of the most important festivals we have each year ... Bring yourself, a good attitude and responsible behavior."\nRuppel said the idea of a Knox County Germanfest was born out of his travels to Germany during the 1960s in search of Bavarian heritage celebrations. Frustrated from having to travel the nation from Indianapolis to St. Louis in search of national Bavarian appreciation, he said Vincinnes' first Germanfest in 1972 attracted about 1,500 people from Southern Indiana and across America. \n"The city's original Bavarian birthday party was named the St. John's German Beerfest until 1977. About 35 percent of our town's population is of German heritage and the money supports local parochial schools," Ruppel said. "The festival is about gemutlichkeit -- sharing fellowship with neighbors ... Come and enjoy the food and drink, camaraderie and fellowship, but don't over do it and don't drink and drive. There will be free cab service in and around town or bring a designated driver. Leave your car downtown and pick it up the next day."\nRuppel said $6 will purchase a bratwurst and some German-fried potatoes, and $3 is all that is needed to enjoy the live entertainment like chicken dancing and the German sound of the Jay Fox Bavarian Showtime Band.\nByron Brankle, chairman of the 33rd Van Buren Popcorn Festival committee, said visitors can expect free entertainment like a pet parade, food options like a pancake and sausage breakfast and music from community bands during his town's annual summertime frolic. \n"Van Buren is the popcorn capital of the world and we sell popcorn from the world's largest popcorn factory -- the Weaver Popcorn company. We sell both unpopped and popped corn," Brankle said. "With a population of 1,000, Van Buren is the lifeblood of the company because they employ 400 people ... People will find interesting things to eat at the festival and some interesting crafts, maybe a bargain on new sneakers."\nBrankle said Van Buren community members place their lawn chairs on the library lawn about a week before the show opens and the event packs more than 7,000 people into town.\nAlvetta Wallace, a self-proclaimed "jack-of-all-trades" for the Oakland City Sweet Corn Festival, said the theme for this year's parade is "Honoring Our National Treasure: the Youth of America." She said festival-goers can take a brief ride in a hot-air balloon for a handful of donated pocket change Thursday during the event, and children can participate in games like "hunting for money" and "carrying a boiled egg in a spoon."\n"At 8 p.m. on Saturday \npeople have all the corn they can eat at no charge. Whoever eats the most corn wins a trophy. We cook and cool the ears of corn and we do have butter and salt on the table," Wallace said. "About 20 some odd people participated last year ... If you stop by you don't have to bring anything."\nOakland City Sweet Corn Festival participants are charged $1 per carload to maintain Wirth Park, the event's location. She said visitors can purchase smoked porkchops and fried chicken for minimal amounts of money, and they can camp at one of the two campsites located within a 10-minute drive to town.\n"Stop on by Oakland City and enjoy Southern hospitality. The boot of Indiana is quite different from other parts of the state," Wallace said. "Exploring Indiana is kind of a theme the state uses, but it's true. Explore Indiana and find out something about your home state"