Haynes Apperson Festival Brings the Spirit of Community to Kokomo
If you’ve ever been to the Haynes Apperson Festival, you know to expect an awesome classic car show, a timeless parade through downtown and live music on the Foster Park Stage, but you’ll probably leave with something a bit more meaningful: a stronger sense of community.
From June 29 to July 1 in the heart of Foster Park and throughout the city of Kokomo, thousands of people are expected to gather at the annual event for three days of sports, fair food and carnival games.
TKP Photo | Joe Andrews
Named after local visionaries Elwood Haynes and the Apperson brothers, this eagerly awaited celebration not only commemorates Kokomo’s history but gives people the ability to experience one of the most attended events in Kokomo.
“The Haynes Apperson Festival celebrates our history and our heritage and everything that’s great about Kokomo and Howard County,” said Paul Wyman, festival chairman.
Complete with live music, all the food you could ever want, a parade, a community-wide sports festival, a car show, amusement rides, a beer garden from The Coterie and a must-see firework show to wrap up the weekend, you aren’t there is truly something for everyone at this year’s festival. The fest serves as a gathering point for friends, families and car enthusiasts, fostering a sense of togetherness and celebration, said Wyman.
TKP Photo | Joe Andrews
“We have a huge entertainment line-up this year,” said Wyman. “Thursday night we will have Here Come the Mummies, who have been part of the festival for years now. Then on Friday, we will have Ace Frehley, and to wrap it up, Saturday we will have a huge sing-along night from Starship with Mickey Thomas followed by a spectacular firework show.”
Thursday’s Here Come the Mummies performance is provided by an eight-piece funk-rock band with a mysterious identity. Some say the group features Grammy-award-winning music artists, but the band’s true members remain under wraps, pun intended.
Friday’s Ace Frehley, the founding member of KISS, is set to provide a rocking night on the Kokomo Arts Pavilion Stage and lastly, and Saturday night brings a night of hits from Starship with Mickey Thomas.
All concerts are free to attend, but VIP tickets that guarantee a seat up close are $20 a night, or $50 for all three nights. Tickets for VIP seats can be purchased at Palmer’s Jewelry or at The Wyman Group Real Estate office.
TKP Photo | Heidi Pruitt
An automotive town festival wouldn’t be complete without a commemorative car show route that includes historic locations relevant to Elwood Haynes and the Apperson Brothers. Followed by a cruise-in to the park and lastly, a car show to wrap up the weekend on Saturday in Foster Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Haynes Apperson Parade will be held at 2 p.m. on July 1 to not only celebrate Kokomo’s heritage but the upcoming Independence Day holiday. The parade’s grand marshall is StarPlus Energy, the company in charge of bringing the electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant to Kokomo.
“We are just so excited and thrilled they decided to build the battery plant in Kokomo so we wanted to recognize them for that.”
“The parade has become a staple of the festival and people from all different organizations show the pride they have in their organization and we cheer them on along the parade route. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Another beloved part of the Haynes Apperson Festival is the Sports Festival. During this segment of the event, the community is invited to join a team or play as an individual in more than a dozen various sports.
“Some people like to come out and ride rides, some love to eat all the good food and listen to the live music and some like to participate in sports. It’s just about people coming together and celebrating our community for the weekend,” said Wyman.
Some sports have come and gone, but there are 13 sporting events included in the 2023 Sports Festival.
They include golf, cornhole, a kids track meet, pole vaulting, men’s and women’s softball, a 5K race, volleyball, disc golf, tennis, pickleball, basketball and a canoe/kayak trip.
“The philosophy is let’s have something for everybody. Some of the sports are strenuous and some aren’t. There’s no requirement to participate, you just register and show up,” said Dana Neer, sports festival chairman.
An important aspect of the Sports Festival is having tournaments and competitions at various locations throughout the city, according to Neer.
“We’re at all these great locations throughout Kokomo. It’s not just downtown, it’s everywhere.”
The festival will wrap up Starship with Mickey Thomas at 8 p.m. with a firework show in the park at 10 p.m.
You can learn more about the Haynes Apperson Festival and the Sports Festival by clicking here.
