Thursday marks the spectacular 2019 Noblesville Fireworks Festival and the city is excited about the expanded, free events taking place with the parade downtown and the fireworks festival at Forest Park.
Parade
The festivities kick off with the annual Fourth of July Parade presented by Gaylor Electric Inc. at 2:30 p.m. The parade is starting earlier this year, but its route will remain the same through downtown: 16th Street to Logan Street; Logan to Ninth Street; Ninth to Monument Street; and Monument to 16th Street. Luke and Sally Kenley will lead this year’s parade as grand marshals.
Fireworks Festival
The free Fireworks Festival, presented by IDI Composites International, will take place at Forest Park from 4 to 10 p.m. The event will include traditional festival items including a food court, an Armed Forces Action Zone (with the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marines), Kids Zone and fireworks show at 10 p.m.
“Forest Park provides guests with the traditional park amenities such as playgrounds, shelters – and most importantly, nature providing plenty of shade. It also expands our festival area and layout,” said Mike Hoffmeister, festival co-chair.
Hoffmeister
This year’s Kids Zone will include more activities than ever before, including 11 inflatable bounce houses with sizes for different age groups. The area will have its own entertainment stage presented by Noblesville Economic Development with a Dr. Seuss, pirate and comedy-magic shows and DJ Jason Fritz playing music specifically for children. The area also will have six balloon artists, six face painters, two silt walking jugglers, a trackless train to ride and an art project through Caravan Classes.
“Other exciting new additions to cater to all ages include a 300-foot zipline, beer garden, a ninja warrior course, cornhole and an Indy Eleven activity,” Hoffmeister said. “We also will have live music on the main stage presented by Republic Services with headliner Road Trip, a fantastic cover band from Milwaukee, and School of Rock as the opener.”
Nickel Plate Express
The Nickel Plate Express will offer 30-minute rides during the festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at NickelPlateExpress.com or onsite at the Nickel Plate Express ticket booth. The Noblesville 4th of July festival marks the return of a train to Forest Park and the beginning of a continued presence by Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville.
Deck the 4th
The Noblesville Fourth of July Festival Planning Committee has partnered with the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce to offer a private event at the Forest Park Lodge. Tickets are $50 per couple for chamber members and $60 for non-Chamber members and include parking at The Lodge, drinks, appetizers, lawn games and viewing of the fireworks from the deck. Guests 21 or over will receive a bracelet entitling them to two alcoholic beverages. Those interested may contact Mary Noble at mary@noblesvillechamber.com or visit noblesvillechamber.com for more information.
Parking
Those attending the festival should know that Noblesville High School and East Middle School parking lots are currently under construction and parking will not be available to the public during the Fourth of July festivities. All downtown public lots will be available and free to park in on the holiday.
Only handicap parking will be available on marked spaces along Cicero Road. Proper tags must be displayed to be able to park in this area while spaces are available. Forest Park Aquatic Center and parking will be open for normal business.
“Limiting the parking spaces was necessary for public safety. With so many activities and people walking around the park and on the road, we need to make sure it is safe for all of our guests and their children,” said Hoffmeister. “Trolley rides will run continuously throughout the festival. Following the fireworks, Noblesville Schools’ buses will be added to the routes to assist guests leaving the park as quick as possible.”
Graphic provided
A map of the trolley routes and park festivities has been created to help guests plan where to park and what attractions they will want to visit during the festival. Shuttle routes will drop-off and pick-up guests at the two ends of the park and include multiple stops in designated parking lots.
- East Route – Stops include North Elementary, Ivy Tech Community College, First United Methodist Church and Evans Street at 10th Street. The trolley will drop-off guests near the main stage on the north entrance of Forest Park (near Field Drive).
- South Route – Stops include Riverview Health, the Riverview Overflow Lot and the Hamilton County Government Employee Lot off Conner Street. The trolley will drop-off guests near the Kids Zone on the south entrance of Forest Park (from State Road 19).
“We are encouraging guests to utilize the numerous downtown parking lots and on street parking and walk to the festival using the pedestrian bridge across the White River or State Road 19,” said Hoffmeister. “Due to their proximity, Federal Hill Commons and the Moose Lodge will be park and walk lots.”
Starting at 4 p.m., State Road 19 will be closed from Field Drive to Logan Street. This was recommended by the Indiana State Police and local law enforcement to provide safe passage of walkers from nearby parking. Vehicles will be detoured around the event site.
Schwartz’s Bait and Tackle and U-Haul rental at 118 Cicero Road will be open for business during the closure. Their parking lot is for customers only and violators may be towed away.
For updates throughout the festival, follow @NoblesvilleIN on Twitter or the City of Noblesville on Facebook. Guests also are encouraged to use #Noblesville4th to share memories at the festival.
Volunteers needed for Fourth of July Firework Festival
The biggest challenge that the Noblesville Fireworks Festival Planning Committee faces each year is finding enough volunteers to staff the event. Residents are asked to please consider donating a couple of hours of their time to help make this event a success – and receive a free meal and a commemorative T-shirt.
Volunteer shifts are 3:45 to 6 p.m.; 5:45 to 8 p.m.; and 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. The jobs mainly involve interacting with the community by running the bounce house inflatables in the Kids Zone and monitoring the inflatables.
“The Fourth of July is always a difficult time to donate time, but those that can are a big part of why our event is so successful each year. Volunteers are necessary to help the event run smoothly,” said Noblesville Parks Recreation Coordinator Nichole Haberlin. “Whether you want to volunteer as an individual, with your family or as part of a group, our volunteers still have plenty of time to enjoy the festival and fireworks with their family and friends before or after their shift.”
Organizations also can earn in-kind trade of discounted rates for facility rentals. Groups volunteering with at least 10 volunteers and reaching 20 hours of service can earn a free four-hour court or shelter rental.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Nichole Haberlin at nhaberlin@noblesville.in.us or call (317) 770-5750.