For Grateful Web readers hungry for a new autumn adventure, let us point your compass toward Indiana—where the picking is sweet, the camping is easy, and the roots run deep. The First City Music Festival, returning September 25-27, 2025, in Vincennes, Indiana, has quietly grown into one of the Midwest’s most authentic, family friendly, and welcoming gatherings for fans of bluegrass, Americana, and folk-fusion sounds.

Every Labor Day weekend since 2011, the beautiful grounds of Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see near Manteno, IL have played host to Shoe Fest. I find myself camped this year with two of my favorite fire spinners and band members from Broken Robots. Yes, everybody can get close at Shoe Fest and you never know whom you might meet. This is an eclectic music festival with something for everyone, and some things unexpected.

Memories create the future. Memories of Memorial Day weekend at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL for Summer Camp Music Festival blended together with 23 years of Summer Camp past memories. Goldberg Productions announced this would be the last ever Summer Camp as we know it.