Organizers plan for annual Noblesville Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks Festival
The Fourth of July festivities have three goals – have the community come together, celebrate our freedoms and founding of the nation, and have it free to residents.
“It’s old-fashioned fun that’s actually fun and not just old fashioned,” Cindy Benedict, manager of Vision Noblesville and its volunteer network, said. “I love seeing all the families. It just feels like all of the Noblesville community comes – people of all ages,” Benedict said.
The parade and fireworks festival is free for everybody to attend – the main goal of organizers.
“No taxpayer dollars go into this. It all comes from fundraising efforts,” she said.
City spokeswoman Cara Culp said planning for the festivities begins July 5 and lasts all year.
“Snow’s on the ground and we’re making plans for the fourth,” she said.
Culp said residents can bring picnics to the festival, but food vendors will be available. However, since there is no ATM on site, residents are encouraged to bring cash.
“(My favorite part) is watching people have fun and when the fireworks are done, hearing all the people clap at the end. I think, ‘This was a struggle but people enjoyed it. We did our jobs.’”
Construction at Noblesville High School has caused a small change in the festival layout. Culp said the annual car show will not be held this year.
“We’re not losing any parking. The area offset by construction is made up by not doing the car show,” she said. “It will return in 2015.”
Organizers said the timeframe provides families a chance be together earlier in the day before attending the parade and festival. Culp said the intention has never been to be the biggest in the area.
“A four-hour period for the festival seems to be the magic touch,” she said. “It’s never been a goal more than to be a great place to celebrate the founding of our country.”
“It’s also not designed to sell you stuff,” Benedict said.”It’s fun and free and family oriented. The goal is to make it free for families.”
Event schedule
• 4 p.m. – Parade check-in will take place at 16th and Harrison
• 5 p.m. – Parade starts
• 6 to 10 p.m. – Free festival on the grounds of Noblesville High School, 18111 Cumberland Rd. (presented by Industrial Dielectrics, Inc.). Festival activities include: live music; race car simulator; extreme air jumper; giant slide, kids’ obstacle course; rock climbing wall; balloon artists; face painters; instant photo booth; and carnival games for kids.
• 6 to 9:30 p.m. – Animalia animal shows
• 7 to 10 p.m. – Ripple Effect performs
• 10 p.m. – Fireworks begin
• Food vendors will be at the festival or people may bring a picnic dinner.
• No fireworks, sparklers, alcohol or smoking are permitted on high school grounds. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash at all times and owners must pick up after their dog.
Parade route
The parade will begin at the corner of 16th Street and Harrison Street and will travel south on 16th to Logan Street; west on Logan to Ninth Street; north on Ninth to Monument Street; and east on Monument to 16th Street where it will end.
“It’s a community parade – nonprofit organizations, chamber of commerce, Boys & Girls Club, churches, sports clubs at the school level and businesses use it as a way to get the word out in the community,” Culp said. “The Noblesville (high school) band always performs and the Sheridan High School marching band started in mid-2000s.”
For those unable to attend, Jim Wafford will be live streaming the parade on www.hamiltoncountytv.com.
Live Music
Ripple Effect of Indianapolis performs dance and party music from the best of the classics to today’s hottest hits. The band, which formed in October 2012, is comprised of lead singer Kelly Farrell, keyboardist Jeff “Bones” Morris, guitarist David Hetrick, bassist Scott Carroll and drummer Tony Seiler. For more information, visit www.rippleeffectparty.com.
Grand Marshal
Korean War veteran and POW Chuck Layton will serve as this year’s grand marshal for the parade. Layton and 36 other captured American soldiers lived a small mud hut from November 1951 to February 1952, one of the coldest winters ever recorded in Korea. Led by Layton, the POW’s escaped one night and were reunited with American troops the next morning. For his role in orchestrating and leading the escape, Layton was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korean Presidential Citation.
In addition to his military service, Layton has served the community through Disabled American Veterans, Central Indiana Korean Veterans Association, Purple Heart Society and Kiwanis. For the past five years, he has served as an active board member and volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County.
“Chuck is a perfect choice to lead the July 4th parade,” said Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear. “By choosing him as this year’s grand marshal, we are so pleased to recognize everything he endured during the Korean War as well as the commitment he has shown to his community and other people since then.”
