I love neighborhood festival season. The music is always great, and most importantly it is fun to meet and reconnect with neighborhood folks. You don't have to be a member of the parish to enjoy the festivities.

The family-friendly 5K run/walk starts at 9:00; visit the website, ihmindy.org/fallkickoff for more details and to register.

The food and beverage service begins at 4:00 with several neighborhood restaurants participating: Sam's Gyros, Mama Carolla's, Pat Flynn's, Byrne's Grilled Pizza, Brugge pomme frites, and the Knights of Columbus group will be cooking up their famous ribs. Triton will provide craft beers and there will be wine available.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Indiana State Fair this year, especially the music. There are still great bands to be heard on the Marsh Free Stage near the 4-H buildings in the northwest side of the Fairgrounds.

I will have lineup times and more information in the next issue of the Gazette, but I want to encourage you to purchase your tickets now, seriously, buy them now. It promises to be a great event.

The White River Arts & Music Festival (WARMfest) will take place over Labor Day weekend in Broad Ripple Park. The Broad Ripple owned and operated, Howald Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing company has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the festival. Company owner Larry Howald says the event's vision to restore and promote the White River area to its former grandeur struck a chord with his family owned business. "I was born and raised here in Indianapolis. My dad Wayne started Broad Ripple Heating and Air Conditioning back in the 1960s. I remember working in his place, riding around Broad Ripple in his trucks and spending time along the river" says Howald. "Partnering and investing in an event like this that's fun and supports the community is a great way for our company to give back."

WARMfest will feature three days of live music on five stages in addition to the Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace, and will focus on educating the public and raising environmental awareness. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Carl G. Fisher Society (CGFS), a non-profit with a vision to restore and promote the White River to return it to how it was in the past.

Bands include Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mayer Hawthorne, G. Love & Special Sauce, JJ Grey & Mofro, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Delta Spirit, RJD2, Red Wanting Blue, 3rd Bass, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and a good dose of local bands. See the full artist lineup here: lineup.warmfest.org/