Submitted
The Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission announces its lineup of grant-funded and community events for June 2023.
Washington Township, located in the western section of Hamilton County and home to Westfield, is being celebrated during June. The Bicentennial Commission will highlight events like finding the oldest trees in the area, incredible free concerts, genealogy and art demonstrations, and more. The traveling exhibit will also be touring during this month.
You can see details and other events on the online calendar at HamCoTurns200.com/events.
Hamilton County Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit
- June 3 to 9, Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St.
- June 10 to 16, Westfield Washington Historical Society, 130 Penn St.
- June 17 to 23, Westfield Washington Public Library, 333 Hoover St.
- June 24 to 30, Washington Township Trustee, 1549 E. Greyhound Pass
Learn about all five of the Bicentennial themes: Arts, Diversity/Inclusion, Education, Historic Preservation, and Parks/Environment. Contact the hosting organization for information on when the exhibit is open to the public.
Washington Township Signature Event: Westfield Bash!
June 1, 5 to 8 p.m. and June 2, 8 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza, 225 S. Union St.
FREE
- June 1, 5 to 8 p.m.: Come to the Westfield Farmer’s Market to enjoy free entertainment and dozens of vendors. Westfield Washington Schools’ popular concert, American Pie, with the theme of Coming Back to Indiana, will have a free reprisal as well.
- June 2, 8 to 10 a.m.: Attend the Westfield Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast along Park Street and check out some vintage vehicles.
- June 2, 6 to 9 p.m.: Come see local artist Kassey King open for Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band on the main stage at Grand Junction Plaza. This is an exciting chance for a free concert.
Find the oldest tree in your neighborhood
June 1, 5 to 8 p.m., and June 2, 5 to 7 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza, 225 S. Union St.
Free
Come to Grand Junction Plaza to hear about the winners of the local contest from Westfield Green Together. You’ll be able to view posters about the trees submitted to the organization and pick up a driving/walking tour to view some of the trees for yourself. Participants also submitted stories about what life might have been like when the trees were planted.
A Day in the Life “Rocks!”
June 2, 5 to 7 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza, 225 S. Union St.
Free
Students and their families are invited to join Student Impact during the Westfield Bash for a pioneer-themed event of games, food, and activities. The event will be focused on what a day in the life of a student in the 1830s might look like in Hamilton County.
Main Street Productions’ Westfield Founders
June 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St.
Free
Join Mainstreet Productions for performances dramatizing the lives of some of Westfield’s founding families. There will be refreshments served, and performances will run every hour beginning at 1 p.m.
Weekends at Barker Cabin
June 3, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Westfield Washington Historical Society, 130 Penn St.
Free
After a painstaking restoration, the Westfield Historical Society invites you to find out how things got done during the time when the Barker family lived in their cabin in the 1830s. Ribbon cutting and ceremony for the “new” cabin is at 10 a.m., followed by old-fashioned cooking and demonstrations by costumed interpreters. Rusty Muskets Band, a re-enactor show, car show, and more will round out the history event. Food trucks, vendors, pony rides, and fun and games will be available for families. The cabin and museum will also be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. other Saturdays in June.
Historic Downtown Walking Tour
June 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cave and Co Printing, 104 W. Main St.
Free
Join the Westfield Preservation Alliance on a self-guided walking tour of Westfield’s Downtown National Register Historic District. Using the free app “U R HERE – Historic Westfield, IN” on your phone, learn about the people and places of Westfield’s history. Cave Printing serves as the starting location for the tour, and you will be able to pick up printed materials there. Windows in Westfield’s downtown will be decorated with historic items, so be sure to check them out.
Family History & Art Activity Day
June 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Westfield Washington Public Library, 333 Hoover St.
Free
Come to the library for a fun-filled day of learning about the past. Several speakers will discuss several genealogy topics, including getting started, Quaker records, military records, and information on how to use Ancestry.com and Indiana State Library sources. Then, take part in the local arts and crafts demonstration fair where local artists will showcase their work and guide you through how to make historic items. Finally, during the week leading up to the program, the library will host a vintage board game tournament, with some of your favorite board games making appearances. Sign up for parts of the event at wwpl.lib.in.us.
We the Free? People of Color: Movements & Identity
June 29, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Roberts Chapel, 3102 E. 276th St., Atlanta
Free
Get informed at this history panel about Indiana’s free people of color, their southern roots, migration and settlement in Indiana, the role of faith, and the importance of preserving history. Panelists include Dr. Stephen Vincent, retired Associate Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and author of Southern Seed Northern Soil about Roberts Settlement; Dr. Warren Milteer, Associate Professor of History at George Washington University and author of two books about free people of color in the South; and Dr. Charlene Fletcher, the Curatorial Director at Conner Prairie and manager of Conner Prairie’s newest experience, Promised Land as Proving Ground, centering on the faith traditions of Blacks in America. This moderated discussion, taking place where a past settlement of free people of color still has physical reminders left behind, will be an immersive experience. Light refreshments will be served, and while the historic building is not completely ADA accessible, a live stream of the event will be available on the Roberts Settlement Facebook page.
Cool Creek Bicentennial Concert
June 30, 6 to 9:15 p.m.
Cool Creek Park, 2000 E. 151st St., Carmel
$5 to attend
Listen to some tunes from Stella Luna and the Satellites during the Cool Creek Bicentennial Concert. Activities include old timey kids zone (with games such as hoop and stick, cup and ball, etc.), and a version of the 1822 Squirrel Stampede with activity during intermission.
About the Bicentennial
The Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission was established by the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners as the official oversight agency for the 200th anniversary of the county in 2023. It will do so in partnership with the Hamilton County Historical Society, Hamilton County Tourism, Inc, and lead sponsor Duke Energy. For more information, visit HamCoTurns200.com.