Everybody Loves A Noblesville Parade

By: Betsy Reason

What a beautiful, sunny and hot day for a parade.

I think there were more spectators for the Noblesville Fourth of July Parade than there have been for a long time.

Everybody was out in their yards and along the city streets enjoying the day.

The parade, as usual, lined up at the Ivy Tech Hamilton County campus, which is the former Noblesville High School at 300 N. 17th St.

Just before the parade kicked off, kids were playing hopscotch on the parade route, on Logan Street, where one youth wearing a safety helmet was riding an electric skateboard on the brick street.

A sign in a resident’s yard along 17th Street offered hot dogs and popcorn, compliments of Christ Lutheran Church, whose members were enjoying premium lawn-chair seating and camaraderie for the parade.

Spectators in all kinds of lawn chairs lined the parade route, which traveled south on 17th Street, west on Logan Street, north on Ninth Street and east on Monument Street and south on 18th Street, back to Ivy Tech.

Kids eagerly stood along the route with bags to collect tossed candy. Families sat under large umbrellas shaded from the sun. Others gathered on blankets along the curb. Many found shade on Logan Street, which has many trees.

In tradition, Noblesville Police led the parade followed by the Honor Guard and Noblesville July 4th Parade banner holders Ian Thompson and Dakota Light. Noblesville Deputy Mayor Matt Light walked alongside the banner holders. The banner announced parade sponsor Gaylor Electric, which followed with Gaylor trucks in the parade.

There were three parade marshals. The former Noblesville Mayor Mary Sue Rowland (1988-95) rode in a red Chevy Corvette driven by her son, Dane Rowland. Former Noblesville Mayor Dennis Redick (1996-2003) and former Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear (2004-2019) waved from silver Chevy Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Festival Cars.

Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen and his family also waved from the back of a Chevy Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Festival Car.

Noblesville High School Marching Millers — 173 strong this year, the biggest in school history, according to band director Eric Thornbury, plus some middle school guard campers just for the parade, totaling 180 band players — performed throughout the parade route. Noblesville Band Boosters walked alongside a pickup truck advertising this fall’s Pot of Black & Gold 50/50 Raffle. Encore, the NHS Alumni Band also performed riding on a trailer.

Noblesville Fire Chief Matt Mitchell and Noblesville Police Chief John Mann rode in No. 73 ladder truck’s bucket high above the crowd, waving, as NFD engineer Justin Crawford drove the fire truck. NFD’s Sparky mascot gave high-fives and fist bumps to young fans along the route.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, including a walking Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush, waved at parade-goers. Hamilton County Emergency Management followed.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. 6246, Hamilton County Navy Ship No. 29 and American Legion  Post 45 each had parade entries. The Crossroads Corvette Club brought about 15 Chevy Corvettes, mostly in red, but also yellow and white. Hamilton County Bicentennial was represented. Noblesville Lions Club featured Leo the Lion. Noblesville Masonic Lodge Freemasons saw Jake Waterman driving the parade truck.

Hamilton County 2022 4-H Fair Queen Faith Hittle of Cicero, the daughter of Josh and Billie Hittle; first runner-up Anna Clark of Noblesville, the daughter of Chris and Leslie Clark; and fourth runner-up Allie Mathews of Noblesville, the daughter of Rick and Stacy Matthew, all rode in a blue Chevy Camaro Convertible waving at the crowd.

Hamilton County Theatre Guild’s The Belfry Theatre, founded in 1965, was represented by its Apprentice Players summer youth cast and crew, who gave out show info about “Willy Wonka Jr.,” which will be onstage July 27-30 at The Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville.

Dick and Margaret Gordon, of Gordon Insurance, rode a Gator, decorated with flowers from Gatewoods, promoting the Bridge of Flowers at the Logan Street Bridge, which the Gordons spearheaded, and followed up from behind the Gordon Insurance parade truck with tons of balloons.

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America in Noblesville, White River Elementary Pack 104, Noblesville Travel Softball and Noblesville Soccer Club had kids in the parade.

Perkins Restaurant employees carried the giant American flag. Pure Barre Noblesville showcased dancers, ABC Ballroom demonstrated dance moves and Anderson Steppers Unique Diamonds danced along the route.

Moonshot Game Store was among parade entries giving out freezer pops. Other parade entries included Colt Moving, Colt Roofing & Construction, Colt Clean Team, Hoots Marketing, Anderson Roll Arena, Prime Plumbing & Drains, The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education, F.C. Tucker real-estate agents, Ashlin Hadden Insurance, Junk Viking, Noble Optique, Arched by Mara, Ostlund A. Service Co., Bourn2Haul, Mobile Engine Medic and Car Wash King in Noblesville were also represented.

There were political parade entries that included Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, Chuck Goodrich for Congress, Suzanne Crouch for Governor, Alaina for Noblesville and Doden for Indiana. The Hamilton County Republican Party and Hamilton County Democratic Party were also represented.

More than 50 parade entries followed the parade route, including Noblesville resident Steve Costlow, who smiled as he showed off his 1976 Chevy C10 with new rims and tires, which he loves to drive in the Noblesville parades.

It was a great parade and a great day.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at [email protected].