A train ride to a small-town festival made Hayden Parsons feel right at home in Hamilton County. (Photo provided by Hayden Parsons)
Nothing reminds me more of where I grew up than the sound of a train horn. Of course, the trains often ran at night and through the early morning, meaning I would wake up to the call of the metal beasts regularly. While my teenage self dreaded hearing the horns, I do remember a different train ride that was a very special memory.
The South Shore Line is a commuter train in northwestern part of the state that takes passengers from South Bend to Chicago. The second stop headed west is Hudson Lake. I remember the excitement of getting on and taking the ride – partially because of my anticipation to see the fish at Shedd Aquarium. Besides riding on a school bus, this was my first real foray with public transit.
Another experience was that of the Marshall County Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, Ind. While the festival is more of an agricultural and vendor-focused event, the hot ticket item was always the blueberry donuts, deep fried in vats of lard. Occasionally, some people would wait in line for well over an hour just to buy half a dozen.
These memories aren’t Hamilton County experiences. However, I was able to combine these childhood accounts thanks to the Nickel Plate Express and the Town of Atlanta.
Hayden and his wife took the train to Atlanta aboard The Reporter Lounge car. (Photo provided by Hayden Parsons)
Taking a train ride to the Atlanta New Earth Festival was a fantastic change of pace. The New Earth Festival turned a small town into a shoppers’ paradise. I found it hard to believe that there would be so many vendors lining the streets.
It was not only the number of vendors that shocked me, but the sheer number of people. The streets were packed with persons from every walk of life – from the nuclear families to the cosplayers. Although, I did find it particularly funny when a couple people from the group dressed as Nordic warriors – who were banging their drum, marching in formation – broke off from the group to stop by a boba tea trailer which caused the whole group to stop and turn around for their comrades. I don’t blame them though. It was probably sweltering in that costume and helmet on a sunny 80-something degree day!
The live music was a great addition as well. It seemed to bring people of all age groups together. Both the elderly and the young were clapping and dancing in front of the stage as the band played. It’s not often you see a group of ladies having fun dancing together with an age difference of 60 years.
The kid in me loved the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival. The adult in me liked not having to worry about parking thanks to the train ride.
It’s always great to see that there are events that keep a community thriving, even if it is just once a year. I hope that this local tradition continues to make its mark for years to come. Then, maybe when I am 80 years old, I’ll be dancing by the stage in Atlanta, Ind.
Hayden C. T. Parsons is the newest associate at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville.