StringTime Music Fest, Independence Weekend, Syd’s Re-Opening, Flix At Forest Park Pool & More

By: Betsy Reason

It’s the last day of June heading into the holiday weekend. So here’s The Times’ list of 30 things to do.

1. Make plans to celebrate the July 4 holiday weekend at the five-day 2023 Lights over Morse Lake Festival, 4 p.m. today through 10 p.m. Tuesday in Cicero, with an array of activities, food and craft vendors, carnival, pageant, 3-on-3 basketball, pickleball tournament, face painting, Barnyard Party Pals, Golf Cart Poker Run and Scavenger Hunt, Music in the Park, Car Show, United Family Wesleyan Church fish fry, Bingo, hot-air balloon rides, Bishops concert, Krista & the Night Shift and Mikey Goode concert, Big 80’s Band concert, cornhole tournament, kids talent show, Hamilton County Band, rain barrels silent auction and fireworks. For specific dates and times, visit lightsovermorselake.org
2. Enjoy live music with The Bishops from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. today at Wolfies Geist in Fishers.
3. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and pack a picnic for Conner Prairie’s Star-Spangled Symphony on the Prairie 8 p.m. today through Monday with tickets available at indianapolissymphony.org
4. Celebrate the grand re-opening of Syd’s Fine Food on the Courthouse Square in downtown Noblesville with Moontown Pickle Stompers performing 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. today.
5. Grab a float and watch a flick during Movie Nights at Forest Park Aquatic Center’s 2023 Flix and Floats evenings on the giant LED video board, with the next movie at 8:15 p.m. today, featuring “Hook,” Rated PG; 7:15 p.m. July 3, “Top Gun: Maverick,” Rated PG-13; 8:15 p.m. July 14, “Field of Dreams,” Rated PG; 8:15 p.m. Aug. 5, “Madagascar,” Rated PG; 8:15 p.m. Aug. 12, “Cars,” Rated G; 8:15 p.m. Aug. 19, “Remember the Titans,” Rated PG; 7:15 p.m. Sept. 4, “Back to the Future,” Rated PG, admission charged, but free to members, visit forestparkaquaticcenter.com
6. Enjoy a free movie night at 9 p.m. today in Cicero Christian Church yard by the outdoor shelter house, with free popcorn, water, hot dogs and snow cones.
7. Noblesville Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville. Fishers Farmers Market is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through the summer at Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers.
8. Bring your appetite to Cicero Kiwanis Club’s annual July Breakfast, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Red Bridge Park in Cicero, with pancakes, sausages, fruit and drinks.
9. Shop at Sheridan Farmers & Artisan Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, July 1, 15 and 29, Aug. 12 and 26, at Biddle Park in Sheridan.
10. Beginners and experienced players are invited to a Jam with a Slow Hand on the Square from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday on the Hamilton County Courthouse Square in the side yard of the Old Jail & Sheriff’s Residence. Bring your string instrument and a lawn chair for some familiar bluegrass and folk tunes at a nice pace for beginners, young and old, experienced players looking for some fun and relaxation are welcome, too. Part of Legacy Keepers Music’s Music Festival (below).
11. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for Legacy Keepers Music’s free All-Day Bicentennial Music Festival noon to 8:15 p.m. Saturday featuring Prairietown, Addie & Friends (Noblesville High School students), Santiago Bap Trio, Limestone Nomad, Stampede String Band, Brad McCord, John Gilmore and Barrel Scrapers. The StringTime Music on the Square monthly series continues Aug. 5 with Stones Crossing and on Sept. 2 with Cornfields & Crossroads, both 6:30-8:15 p.m.
12. Central Indiana Vintage Vehicles invites car buffs to show off their vintage vehicles on the Courthouse Square during the weekly Saturday night Cruise-in. Lawn chairs and old-car conversations invited.
13. Enjoy an all-ages concert featuring The Bishops (featuring 1986 NHS grad Bryan Bishop) at Lights Over Morse Lake from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion in Cicero.
14. Check out the comedians at The Brick Room Comedy Club, featuring Improv Night with Old Saints and Jake Omen at 8 p.m. today at Ninth and Maple in downtown Noblesville, with $10 admission tickets at thebrickroom.cc.
15. Head to the 1836 Prairietown as the outdoor areas are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, during the 2023 season at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Join the citizens of Prairietown Saturday and Sunday and July 4 as they celebrate 60 years of American independence but also hear from other Prairietown folks who have questioned this holiday. Glorious Fourth Celebrations at 2 p.m., with presentation of a new 25-star flag, reading of the Declaration of Independence and singing, also watch two speeches that provide historical views on the July 4, enjoy a reenactment from historic White River Guard Militia, and celebrate Lenape culture and history at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (The outdoor areas were closed Wednesday and Thursday due to air quality, but indoor areas open, so check www.connerprairie.org before you go.)
16. Forest Park Aquatic Center in Noblesville is open for the season, noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays and noon to 7 p.m. weekdays, admission $8 per person, concessions available. Morse Beach also open for the summer through Sept. 4. Pool membership includes movie nights (below), Tiny Tots Swim and Morse Beach admission.
17. Enjoy live music featuring Donny Coyle and Friends at 7 p.m. today, Steve Fulton on Saturday, Jason Salyers on July 7, Fast Cadillac (with Barry Dixon) July 8, The Dead Squirrels on July 14, Celtic Rain on July 22 at Primeval Brewing in downtown Noblesville.
18. Travel to the countryside to hear live music with The 78’s at 6:30 p.m. today at Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville. Visit spencerfarmwinery.com
19. Visit Westfield Farmers Market from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through the summer at Grand Junction Plaza in Westfield.
20. Come out for live music during Fishers Parks Department’s Free Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in June and July at Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, featuring Karma, with fireworks to follow, July 4; Street Pennies, July 11; Groovesmash, July 18; and Hank Ruff, July 25. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome. Visit http://www.npdamp.com/
21. Bring your lawn chairs and find a place to watch the Noblesville Fourth of July Parade, themed “Past, Present & Future of Noblesville,” featuring former Noblesville Mayors Mary Sue Rowland, Dennis Reddick and John Ditslear to serve as Parade Grand Marshals, stepping off at 4 p.m. from the Ivy Tech parking lot in Noblesville, traveling south on 17th Street, west on Logan Street, north on Ninth Street and east on Monument Street.
22. Head out to the Noblesville Fireworks Festival following the July 4 parade, beginning at 6 p.m., with food, fun and fireworks at 10 p.m. in Forest Park. Federal Hill Commons will also offer fireworks viewing with close parking nearby as an alternative to Forest Park. VIP table groups ($160 per table) may bring in their own food and drink, participate in a table-decorating contest and get access to separate VIP restroom options.
23. Cool Creek Park and Nature Center free Wednesday Campfires start at 7 p.m on the northside of Cool Creek Park in Westfield, with All-American Animals on July 5, Hoosier Owls on July 12, Baby! It’s Wild Outside on July 17 and Really Dangerous Animals on July 26. Lawn chairs and blankets, extra marshmallows and bug spray encouraged.
24. Noblesville Parks and Recreation presents the free 2023 Summer Concert Series 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays in July: Groove Smash, July 6; The Toons, July 13; Hairbangers Ball, July 20, at Dillon Park in Noblesville. Lawn chairs and blankets invited. Concessions available.
25. Antique car owners and aficionados are invited to Noblesville Jim Dandy Restaurant’s First Friday Cruise-in from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 7 at the eatery, featuring DJ Bumper playing classics.
26. Bring your lawn chair for Nickel Plate Arts’ First Friday event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 7 at Nickel Plate Arts in downtown Noblesville, with refreshments, cash bard, art exhibit, Noblesville Nostalgia exhibit celebrating the Bicentennial of Hamilton County and the City of Noblesville, live music from Bach 2 Rock Fishers.
27. Join Nickel Plate Arts’ reception for Claudia Labin’s “Sculptural Forms,” 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 7 at Nickel Plate Arts Campus. The reception during July First Friday is free and open to the public, with most art available for purchase.
28. All veterans and friends of veterans are invited to a Military Veteran Celebration & Resource Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 8 at Noblesville Schools Community Center on Field Drive in Noblesville, featuring 60 vendors with free information on VA benefits, mental health, housing, employment, insurance, retirement, education and more. The Hamilton County Veterans Corp and the Hamilton County County Bicentennial Commission are celebrating our military veteran community at this event.
29. Noblesville Parks and Recreation Department’s free Concerts at the Commons will feature eight tribute bands 7-10 p.m. Saturdays: Crush (Bon Jovi tribute), July 8; No Fences (Garth Brooks tribute), July 15; Chicago Rewired (Chicago tribute), Aug. 12; Earth to Mars (Bruno Mars tribute), Aug. 26; American English (Beatles tribute) Sept. 9; Trippin Billies (Dave Matthews Band tribute), Sept. 23; all at Federal Hill Commons in downtown Noblesville.
30. Hamilton County 4-H Fair is July 20-23 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, and the Noblesville Street Dance is July 22 in downtown Noblesville.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com. For more Hamilton County Bicentennial events, visit www.hamcoturns200.com