Shake the summertime blues, keep those wheels-a-rollin’.

That’s the theme for the Midwest Area Rally of the Family Motor Coach Association, which kicked off Wednesday and continues to Sunday at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

Al Talbott said about 300 recreational vehicles will stay at the fairground, with about 600 people. Volunteers for the event began arriving Sunday, and RVs began rolling into the fairgrounds Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The FMCA rally was previously held at the fairgrounds in 2004.

Each night a musical group will perform at the grandstand at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Austin singing quartet The Spamettes took the stage. Trumpeter Cecil Welch will perform Tonight. On Friday, the performers will be The New Odyssey, a group that performs various musical styles on 30 different instruments. Musician and comedian Jimmy Travis will perform Saturday.

Talbott is the FMCA Midwest area president, and he travels with his wife, Dory. The two are from Springfield, Ill.

“This is a lifestyle that’s not for the rich and the famous,” Talbott said.

Community members can buy a day pass for $5 and can attend the events of that day.

Talbott, who travels with his wife, Dory, said an event like this shows members of the community a different lifestyle.

“It is not roughing it. Don’t let anyone tell you that it is. But it is fun. You tool into a town and find the local campground and just visit, then come home and sleep in your own bed,” Talbott said.

The FMCA rally also gives curious community members an opportunity to check out RVs in a laid-back environment, Talbott said.

Venders will be stationed in the commercial floral buildings selling “anything related to RVs,” Talbot said.

The Livestock Judging Building will be set up as an alternative to the grandstand if weather interferes with performances in the grand stand.

Many of the seminars are designed for people with RVs, Talbott said. One event from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday is entitled Five Insider Tips to Save Money on Your RV Insurance. Another event from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday is called Understanding, Monitoring and Protecting the RV Electrical System. And another session from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday is called Controlling Odors in Holding Tanks.

“We want to spread knowledge,” Talbott said.

A number of other seminars on RVs will be held, plus there will be hobby and craft sessions, devotions, health sessions, games and Catholic mass.

FMCA has more than 100,000 active member families. FMCA puts on rallies for each of their two national rallies and nine area rallies each year, with more than 25,000 motor homes.