Priority list includes IBE Summer Celebration events, a new fest, more

IBE Summer Celebration

There are lots of ways to do Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration. You could simply check out the exhibitors in the vendor hall July 15-17. You could kick back with the July 9 IBE Film Festival and see work ranging from the urban gardening documentary “Can You Dig This” to “The Throwaways,” which looks at mass incarceration. You can enjoy concerts with New Edition, Dru Hill, and more on July 15-16 or help celebrate Dionne Warwick, Jim Brown, actor Larenz Tate and others at the annual corporate luncheon July 15. And then there’s boxing, the annual health fair, a gospel celebration, a fashion show, a slam-dunk competition, a celebrity basketball game (including Edgerrin James, T.Y. Hilton, Robert Mathis and more), as well as business, music, and education conferences.

July 7-17 Various locations  Details

Flow Fest

For this first-time event, the Phoenix Theatre’s Bryan Fonseca has pulled together a wide range of entertainers including Soundz of Santana, The Underhills, Cathy Morris, Know No Stranger, and juggler Vinny Carter to celebrate—and welcome others to visit—Near West communities. Free yoga classes in both Spanish and English, tours of the Central State Mansion, stories from the Indiana Medical History Museum and more are on the agenda. The event is free with pay-as-you-go food and drink available.

July 9  Central State Mansion grounds (202 Steeples Blvd.)  Details

National Train Show

A combination trade show and public event held in a different city each year (last year: Portland), this con will includes the latest in model trains, a 2,500 sq. ft. Lego village created from millions pieces, an ask-the-appraiser area to assess those locomotives that have been sitting in your attic, and a children’s play area. There are no advance tickets. Instead they will go on sale a half hour before opening each day.

July 8-10  Indiana Convention Center  Details

Also this week

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and ”Sense and Sensibility” are performed in rep at IU Summer Theatre beginning July 8 at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center in Bloomington.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra offers an all-Mozart program July 8-9 at Conner Prairie.

Lawrence Children’s Theatre Festival runs July 9-10 and includes free outdoor activities along with ticketed shows at the Theatre at the Fort.

The Lawn at White River State Park hosts “Weird Al” Yankovic on July 7 and Barenaked Ladies July 8.

Luke Bryan takes the stage at Klipsch Music Center July 8-9.

At the Palladium, Michael McDonald headlines on July 6.

Jazz great Wes Montgomery is the subject of a July 10 tribute show at Chef Joseph’s.