PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE JULY 1, 2015

The Lightning Bug Music Festival will be held at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso Sunday.

Musical acts for the Lightning Bug Music Festival include Jerry Douglas presents the Earls of Liecester, Blitzen Trapper, the Infamous Stringdusters, Shel and Special Consensus.

The musical acts start at noon. Patrons are strongly encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to view the shows. There will be no seating available.

Jim Chaddock and his wife, Andrea Georgian, came up with the idea of the Lightning Bug Music Festival.
“My wife and I have a 6-year-old. There’s some music we have that is for Mom and Dad only, and some music that is for kids only. There also is some music that Mom, Dad and kids can enjoy, dance and have a party together with,” said Chaddock.

“The music this year is great. It’s really family friendly. We wanted to put on a show that everyone can get into,” said Chaddock.

This event brings the community together in northwest Indiana.

“It’s an event that you can go to with your kids,” Chaddock said. “There’s not many adult festivals or outdoor concerts that kids can go to.”

All of the proceeds for the Lightning Bug Music Festival will go to the Dunes Learning Center, a summer camp.

“It’s a good way to make the world a better place and invest in kids to give financial assistance to kids to get out in nature and learn,” Chaddock said.

The Dunes Learning Center staff will be on site leading activities during the festival.
This year, the first 2,000 guests will be given collapsible water bottles to help minimize waste on the festival grounds. Coastal Valley Water will be providing water to guests.

The festival also will sell a stainless steel pint glass for beer beverages, which can be rinsed out and used as a water glass.

“Last year we saved about 1,000 bottles from the trash,” according to Chaddock.

Beth Casey is a freelance writer.

Lightning Bug Music Festival

Where: Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso

When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. July 5

Tickets: $36 online, $40 door, children younger than 12 free
Information: Lightningbugmusicfestival.com