So rapidly approaching is everyone’s favorite Patriotic Holiday. But celebrating the 4th of July can really add up. From fireworks and sparklers to special holiday treats and cookouts, not to mention all of the cutesy themed flip flops, hair bows, hats, do-dads, and decorations (and of course the classic Old Navy Flag T-shirts) you can end up spending much more than you planned to celebrate a holiday that comes and goes in a 24 hour period.
But just because the 4th leaves with a Big Bang, it doesn’t mean you have to blow a hole in your wallet. There are plenty of Fourth of July Festivals and free things to do to celebrate without getting caught up in the trappings. Here are some of the Indy area festivals that I could fine (chime in with more if you know of them but try to stick with free ones, ok?).
June 26-27 Greenwood Freedom Festival. The Hometown girl gets to promote her favorite first. We. go. every. year. Some of our favorite activities: Friday Night’s Band Concert and Picnic, the parade, the Kid’s Fair at Craig’s Park and of course the Fireworks!
June 27-28 Fishers Freedom Festival. This looks like SO much fun. We might check out some of the Sunday events since we’ll be loyal to Greenwood for Saturday. I hear that it’s fabu.
July 3-4 Carmelfest. Um, if the website is any indication of how much fun this will be, wow. Lots of fun kid activities, a ton of live music, fireworks, parade and more. Plus you can learn all sorts of interesting facts and history of summer festival foods while you’re browsing the site. Double bonus.
July 2-5 City of Lawerence 4th of July Festival. I heard this advertised on Radio Disney and decided to check out the site. They have organized a number of free concerts, including Radio Disney’s Savvy and Mandy. There’s also Fireworks, a Parade, and it looks like you can play hockey with the Indianapolis Ice?
July 4 Noblesville July 4th Parade & Fireworks Festival. Located at Noblesville HS, this event boasts a lot of free activities – bounce houses, obstacle courses, a rock wall, and if I’m reading it right, a free Mini Nascar Track?
July 4 Linton Freedom Festival. It’s a bit of a drive from the Indy area but maybe this year you should take your kids to the Largest Independence Day Parade in the State. Festivities begin June 27th and run through July 5th.
July 4 Regions Bank Freedom Blast. I’m having a hard time locating too many details on Indy’s crowing Fireworks Event. There’s some basic info (but the linked site just takes you to the bank’s site).
July 4 WFMS Fourth Fest. Presented by SmokeFree Indy and country music station WFMS, this event occurs at the Indiana War Memorial. And it sounds like great fun! You can honor soldiers with thank you notes, listen to their stories, hear live music from a military band, and then watch the Regions Fireworks show from 7-11 PM. Scroll down a little and look in the middle of the page.
So what do you do to celebrate the Fourth (festival or non festival) to have fun without your hard earned cash going up in smoke?
www.queenoffree.net
If you come up to the Fishers event, let me know- I might come out & meet you!
Al;so, CarmelFest is a LOT of fun.