Lights Over Morse Tops July 4 Events

By: Betsy Reason

This year, the July 4 holiday means an extra-long weekend.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate our holiday is at the Lights Over Morse Lake Festival. This year, the festival is a five-day event that kicked off Friday afternoon and runs through Tuesday night fireworks over Morse Reservoir in Cicero.

There is an array of happenings that all ages can enjoy.

This morning’s activities kick off with a Cicero Kiwanis Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Red Bridge Park overlooking Morse Reservoir. Who can resist all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage?

Next up is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at 9 a.m. at the Community Park tennis courts. If you like watching basketball, this is also fun for spectators, who might bring their own lawn chairs. A pickle ball tournament, also at 9 a.m., takes place at Community Park, which is located on Pearl Street, just off of Stringtown Pike and Brinton Street.

Just for the kids, there is a Princess and Superheroes and face painting event from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion, which is within walking distance of Community Park, where a Barnyard Party Pals event, for kids, takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Food and craft vendors open at 10 a.m. at Community Park for the day and remain open until 8 or 9 p.m.

A Golf Cart Poker Run, which is a lot of fun, begins at 10:30 a.m. at Red Bridge Park on West Jackson Street and ends at Cicero Christian Church on Stringtown Pike, which turns into Main Street in downtown Cicero. The Poker Run will take golf carts all over the town.

Music in the Park will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Community Park.

A carnival that opens at noon offers all kinds of rides until 11 p.m. behind the library at the ball fields. A $25-day pass is available.

Antique car owners and those who love to see old cars should attend the annual car show, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the sound end of Community Park. Registration begins at 1 p.m.

When it’s about time to eat supper, the United Family Wesleyan Church fish fry opens at 4 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m. at the church on Washington Street at Spring Street.

Cicero Friends of the Park Bingo is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Community Park’s shelter.

Then, tethered hot-air balloon rides will be offered from 7:30 p.m. to sunset at Cicero Christian Church for $15 per person.

The night ends with a free concert by The Bishops (Bryan Bishop is a 1986 Noblesville High School graduate, and his show is not one to miss) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for this outdoor seating.

On Sunday, Lights Over Morse Reservoir opens at noon with food and craft vendors and Barnyard Party Pals in Community Park and the carnival behind the library. A corn hole tournament begins at noon at the south end of Community Park.

A kids talent show is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion, and the Hamilton County Band will play from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Community Park shelter.

A Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, starting and ending at Cicero Christian Church shelter. Music in the Park is noon to 3 p.m. at Community Park. Tethered hot-air balloon rides are again at 7:30 p.m. to sunset at Cicero Christian Church. The evening ends with a concert featuring Mikey Goode at 6 p.m. and Krista & the Night Shift from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion.

On Monday, food and craft vendors are open 4 p.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. in Community Park, the carnival is open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. behind the library, Barnyard Party Pals is happening 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Community Park, rain barrels’ silent auction ends at 4 p.m. at the Cicero Parks Department, and a concert features Big 80’s Band from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion.

On Tuesday, Selah’s Grace 5K Run/Walk begins at 7:30 a.m., with registration at 7 a.m., at the Parks Department Office at Community Park.

A golf cart decorating contest is at 10 a.m. at the Hamilton North Public Library Pavilion.

The July 4 Parade steps off at 11 a.m. through downtown Cicero.

Food and craft vendors are open noon to 6 p.m. in Community Park, where Barnyard Party Pals are also happening noon to 6 p.m. The carnival is open from noon to 9:30 p.m. behind the library.

Music in the Park is noon to 6 p.m. in Community Park.

United Family Wesleyan Church Free Fair is open 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church on Washington Street.

Also, here’s a quick roundup of other July 4 weekend events.

-Conner Prairie’s Star-Spangled Symphony on the Prairie is 8 p.m. today through Monday with tickets available at indianapolissymphony.org

-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, with a Slow Jam at 10 a.m. on the Courthouse Square.

-Citizens of Prairietown today and Sunday and July 4 will celebrate 60 years of American independence with Glorious Fourth Celebrations at 2 p.m., enjoy a reenactment from historic White River Guard Militia, and celebrate Lenape culture and history at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

-Forest Park Aquatic Center in Noblesville is open noon to 8 p.m. today, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Monday and noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

-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, steps off at 4 p.m. Tuesday 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.

-Noblesville Fireworks Festival follows the July 4 parade, 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.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com. The Times will not publish on Tuesday, July 4.