Kokomo Prepares for the 2024 Haynes Apperson Festival
The city of Kokomo is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events of the year, the 2024 Haynes Apperson Festival. Scheduled to take place from June 27 to 29, this annual celebration promises a weekend filled with fun, sports, music and a strong sense of community.
TKP Photo | Heidi Pruitt
“For me, it’s just about seeing the community come out and celebrate all that’s great about Kokomo and Howard County,” said Paul Wyman, Haynes Apperson Festival chairman.
The Haynes Apperson Festival commemorates the legacy of Elwood Haynes and Elmer Apperson, pioneers of the American automobile industry. Their contributions to Kokomo’s rich automotive history are celebrated with a festival that blends historical homage with contemporary festivities.
The festival begins at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, June 27 with a historic journey through Kokomo’s historic automotive landmarks. During this reenactment, you will find narrating tales from the past and the locations where automotive history was made.
2023 Haynes Apperson Festival Parade
TKP Photo | Joe Andrews
The cars start at Grace Community Foursquare Church, 2064 S. Goyer Road — near Pumpkin Vine Pike, where Haynes held his first test drive of the Haynes Pioneer, America’s first commercially successful automobile, on July 4, 1894.
The motorcade will then go to the Elwood Haynes Museum, where the automobile inventor once lived then to The Kokomo Tire & Rubber Company, where the first pneumatic tire was developed. Then on to the Apperson Brothers Automobile Company's factory site on a stretch of Main Street. A cruise-in will then be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the North end of Foster Park.
This three-day event brings, on average, 15,000 people to downtown Kokomo each year. Festival-goers can experience live music from well-known bands all weekend long.
Each evening, the festival stage will come alive with performances from local and national acts. This year's lineup promises a diverse array of music genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
Starting the festival with a bang, as the legendary band Here Come The Mummies takes the stage at Foster Park on Thursday June 28. This a unique and captivating band known for their high-energy performances and distinctive persona is comprised of talented musicians who perform dressed as mummies. The group has gained a reputation for its eclectic, funky sound and playful and mysterious stage presence.
“We got a great musical lineup during the weekend,” said Wyman. “The Mummies have been opening for our festival for a long time and they are a crowd favorite.”
On Friday, June 28, experience an unforgettable Classic Hip Hop Night featuring four legendary groups: Sugar Hill Gang (“Rapper’s Delight”) C&C Music Factory (“Things that Make you Go Hmmm”), Quad City DJ’s (“Space Jam”), and Tone Loc (“Wild Thing”). Enjoy iconic beats and timeless hits that shaped hip-hop history.
TKP Photo | Joe Andrews
“This is going to be a powerful, fun, classic hip-hop night, all these groups are going to be taking the stage singing all of their greatest hits,” said Wyman. “We’re constantly looking for different music genres and it worked out perfectly to book these groups.”
On Saturday, June 29, Steve Augeri, former lead vocalist of Journey, will perform. Enjoy songs that made Journey famous, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Faithfully,” and more. This night of sing-along music will conclude with an awesome fireworks show.
The classic Haynes Apperson carnival will offer thrilling rides and games for children and adults alike. From the Ferris wheel to the bumper cars, the carnival is sure to delight families. A variety of food vendors will be set up, offering everything from traditional festival fare to gourmet treats.
The annual Haynes Apperson parade, a highlight of the festival, will take place on Saturday, June 29. Floats, marching bands and community groups will parade through the streets of downtown Kokomo, spreading festive cheer throughout downtown at 2 p.m. Find the map route in the photo to the right.
Running concurrently with the main festival is the Haynes Apperson Sports Festival, a celebration of athleticism and sportsmanship.
“There are few festivals anywhere that have the variety of things we have, from a car show to fireworks to sports to music. It’s a fabulous thing we have here, it's beloved. To think that the Apperson brothers and Elwood Haynes would be so proud of this, the history connected to the present,” said Dana Neer, sports festival coordinator.
Find out more about the Haynes Apperson Sports Festival here.
As the countdown to the 2024 Haynes Apperson Festival and Sports Festival begins, excitement is building across Kokomo. So mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and prepare for a weekend of unforgettable fun, music and community spirit.
