Three annual festivals offer a wide variety of live musical entertainment during the July 10-13, 2009 weekend.

The largest, in attendance, of the three must be the Summer Festival of the Arts on the YSU campus, Saturday and Sunday, since one adjunct activity, Forte on the Fifty draws thousands to the music and fireworks at Stambaugh Stadium Saturday night.

A broad sampling of different musical styles will be presented continuously throughout the festival at the amphitheater stage near the Kilcawley fountain, with bands also performing on the open stage at DeBartolo Hall, outside at McDonough Museum, and between dance troops at the Festival of Nations performance tent.

The oldest continuous festival this weekend, Slovenfest XXVIII at the SNPJ recreation center near Enon Valley, Pa., also earns top honors for most bands playing the fewest styles: 25 bands and individuals will be playing one genre, polkas (and occasionally, waltzes, which are almost indistinguishable from Slovenian polkas) throughout the three-day event.

The festival, celebrating everything Slovenian, starts at noon on Friday and runs through Sunday night. Bands will be playing continuously on four stages, and jamming in the food pavillion. In addition to most of the area’s foremost polka bands and orchestras, a group from Slovenia will be featured. Of course there will also be a large selection of food, games and ethnic cultural exhibits.

For those who prefer the hometown flavor, there is the Campbell City Fest, which will also have live music, in addition to a parade (early) and fireworks (late) Saturday.

Please check the JamBrain events for specific listings of bands and for helpful maps of the venues.