Hamilton County Celebrates July 4th
| From: | jim wyant | |
| To: | wyantinfo@yahoo.com |
Hamilton County, Indiana is a great place to be when it comes to July 4th celebrations in 2011. There are exciting festivities near every town and city in the county beginning the weekend before and ending with a bang on the 4th itself.
Starting on June 25 and 26 with some fun activities is the Fishers Freedom Festival. The Freedom Festival is held at the Roy G. Holland Memorial Park on the corner of Sunblest Boulevard and Ellipse Parkway in Fishers, Indiana. This event begins early Saturday morning with the 5k run and 2 mile family walk at 8:00 am followed by the opening ceremonies at 10:00. Beginning at 10:00am, there will be a variety of tents to visit including the children’s tent, a charity basketball shoot, and the business vendors tent. The day will be filled with fun events such as a silent auction, water balloon launch, live entertainment for adults and kids, a k-9 demonstration, a beer and wine garden, hot air balloon rides, bake-off, and a street dance to finish the evening.
Then, on June 26, the day will begin with a nondenominational service in the entertainment tent from 8-9 am. After the service, the day will consist of the Indy Disc Dog Classic, a corn hole tournament, the IU North Hospital children’s parade, arts and crafts, free game booths, more live entertainment, and many other tents and activities in the park. At 4:00pm on Sunday the 26th, the Comcast Main Parade will take place in downtown Fishers followed by the pre-fireworks band “Big Daddy Caddy” which will play until the fireworks begin at dusk. You won’t want to miss this exciting festival just a week before 4th of July weekend! For more information on the Fishers Freedom Festival please visit fishersfreedomfestival.org
The next Independence Day event begins July 2nd at Conner Prairie, which is also located in Fishers. Conner Prairie’s “Glorious Fourth” is a 3 day event beginning Saturday July 2 through Monday, the 4th. You can experience how Independence Day was celebrated in the 1800s. It’s a red, white, and blue weekend of patriotic feasts, games and fun sure to create memories and smiles all year long! Do-Si-Do at a barn dance and scavenger hunt through Prairietown. Join in a game of baseball as it was played in the 1800s. Learn how to fire a Civil War-era rifle ($10). Then gather around as Prairietown’s famous militia muster and Declaration of Independence oration are capped off with a smoke balloon launch! Admission to Glorious Fourth is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $9 for youth ages 2-12. For more information about this exciting weekend at Conner Prairie, you can visit connerprairie.org
Also happening on 4th of July weekend is Light Over Morse Lake in Cicero, Indiana. The Kids Carnival will take place each day (July 2-4) from 11:00-5:00. On Saturday the 2nd the day starts off with a golf cart poker run at 9:00 am and then a corn hole tournament at 1:00. On July 3rd there will be a talent show at 3:00 followed by balloon rides at 6:00 and the famous “ballon glow” at 9:00 pm to finish off the day. Then, on the 4th, the day will consist of a fabulous parade at 10:00 am, a soccer tournament, the music festival at 6:00 pm, and finally fireworks to celebrate Independence day at dusk. The entire weekend will take place at Morse Lake in Cicero and is a celebration for everyone! Visit lightsovermorselake.com for more details on the festivities.
Another great event that takes place on Independence Day weekend is Carmel Fest held in downtown Carmel, Indiana on Sunday July 3rd and Monday, the 4th. CarmelFest is an event that encompasses the great things about Carmel and its national heritage while bringing you the joy of a big party. With its lineup of parade, fireworks, live entertainment, fantastic festival food, local featured restaurants, and unique marketplace; CarmelFest has something for everyone. There will be loads of activities for all ages at the celebration and the list of events can be found at carmelfest.net. The festivities run on Sunday, July 3 from 12:00-10:00 and Monday the 4th from 12:00-10:00 as well. The parade will be on Monday starting at 10:30 am and the fireworks will begin around 9:45 pm.
If you live in Westfield and want to have some Independence Day fun then Westfield Rocks The 4th is the perfect place for you! There will be plenty of activities including live music featuring Duke Tumatoe, a car show, food and marketplace vendors, a kids area, a beer and wine garden, a car show, and of course, lots of fireworks. Ride for Prostate Cancer will also be holding a bicycle ride/fundraising event for families. This year will include a scheduled motorcycle ride that will leave from Westfield Yamaha Suzuki in the afternoon and return to the festival around 7:00 pm. Westfield Rocks The 4th will finish off with a fabulous fireworks display. The event will take place at Asa Bales Park next to Westfield High School on Sunday, July 3rd. Parking is available in the High School parking lots. For more info please visit westfield.in.gov.
Noblesville, Indiana takes its spin on the 4th of July with its own family festival in downtown Noblesville. Starting at 5 pm on the 4th, Noblesville will host its own parade followed by a free festival on the grounds of Noblesville High School. The festival will consist of live music, a bouncehouse, giant slide, obstacle course, rock slimbing wall, mini race car simulator, balloon artists, caricaturists, temporary tattoos, corn hole and ladder golf tournaments, minute to win it games, child ID kits, and more! Food vendors will be at the festival or families are welcome to bring picnic dinners to enjoy on the lawn. at 6 pm the car show will begin and at 7 Dave & Rae will play until the car judging at 7 and the awards at 8:30. Finally, to finish off the 4th, the Community Health Network fireworks begin at 10:00 pm. To find out more information about the Noblesville 4th of July festival, please visit noblesvillefireworksfestival.com.
Lastly, Sheridan will also be hosting a 4th of July parade. Registration is from 9:00-10:00 am on the 4th, and the parade will begin at the high school at 10:30 am. The Sheridan 4th of July parade is hosted by the Lions Club and is an event you won’t want to miss!
So much celebrating for the fourth of July, don’t stay home!
