Nine miles east of Kokomo sits a town with one stoplight, three gas stations and Indiana’s second-largest fair. Throughout the last 175 years, Greentown has stood the test of time, growing and evolving while preserving its unique heritage.

On Aug. 25 and 26, throughout the streets of downtown, the community will join together to honor the town’s history and recognize what makes the town so special.

To the business owners who live and work there, including Wynter Hosier, the owner of Etta’s Gooey Goodies, Greentown is more than the location of her bakery. It’s a community that cares.

“I love being part of Greentown,” Hosier said. “People still wave when you're out walking. Cars stop to let you cross the road … I feel safe here.”

**Photo Provided** | The Indiana Album: Rachel Jenkins Collection / Ira Gibson Glass Negatives

Mark Lantz, chairman of the celebration, along with the help of more than a dozen others, has planned the event to not only honor Greentown’s recent revitalization throughout the downtown area but to honor the historic past the city leaves behind.

Part of the past that has remained untouched for more than 20 years will be revealed at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Greentown Historical Society at 103 E. Main St., Greentown. A time capsule, put together by the Greentown Historic Society in 1998, will be opened and showcased to the community.

It’s not a hometown celebration without a good old-fashioned parade. This mile-long route begins at 11 a.m. at Eastern High School and will be led by Eastern’s choir director Karol Evenson and Merrell Shrock, an ex-marshal for the Greentown Police Department.

What’s most important to those putting on the event is showcasing Greentown’s growth in the last decade, and attracting new people to the small town life.

“Just continuing on building community, safety, security, and neighborly is really kinda what all of this is about,” said Lantz.

The Greentown Downtown Association as well as the Lions Club, Greentown Historical Society and other organizations that have a heart for small-town living are hoping that this event draws people in from out of town to experience what a rural Indiana town has to offer for its residents.

“Greentown is a great place to live. We have a great school system and community, but most importantly, we’re just a friendly hometown community,” said Lantz. “We’re really just the place you want to raise a family.”

Learn more about this event by checking out the schedule below. It’s also worth noting that guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or seating arrangements for this event.

Schedule:

Friday, Aug. 25
3 p.m. - Vendors Open for Business on North Meridian St.
5 p.m. - Medicinal Blue Grass Band on the Main Stage
8 p.m. - Southern Rock Authority
10 p.m. - Event Closes for the night

Saturday, Aug. 26
8 a.m. - Community Prayer Breakfast at Blondie’s Cookies on Main St.,
10 a.m. - Vendors Open
11 a.m. - Greentown’s Aniversary Parade
1 p.m. - Kokomo Park Band
1 p.m. - Wrangler & Friends
1:45 p.m. - American Legion Presentation of the Colors at the Greentown Historical Society on S. Meridian St.,
2 p.m. - Ice Cream Social
2 p.m. - Opening of the Time Capsule at the Greentown Historical Society
2 p.m. - Kokomo Men of Note at the Greentown Historical Society
3 p.m. - Bourbon & Wine Tasting and food truck with live music from Josh Mast (21 and older) Holly’s Package Store
5 p.m. - Comedy on the Main Stage by Randy Maurer
6 p.m. - Keyton Romero on the Main Stage
8 p.m. - The Checkered Vans on the Main Stage
10 p.m. - End of event

Greentown Celebrates 175 Years of Small-Town Living

Schedule:

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