HOPE – It’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped back in time whenever Bartholomew County’s second largest incorporated community celebrates the nation’s birthday.
From the cake walk in the shelter house to the sack races near the playground in the town square, Hope’s Old-Fashioned Independence Day is known to bringing smiles to the young — and a warm feeling of nostalgia to the not-so-young.
Other activities brought back from the past for Friday’s event included an apple pie baking contest, watermelon seed spitting competition, a water balloon toss and a tug of war. This year, the monthly Cruise-In Car Show was incorporated into the celebration.
Culinary delights such as funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups and desserts were provided by a number of Hope-area nonprofit organizations. That includes the Yellow Trail Museum, which not only sponsors the celebration itself but offers relief from the heat with $1 ice-cream floats and a air-conditioned building.
Another popular feature is the Kids’ Parade around the town square, which includes decorated bikes, tricycles, strollers and wagons. The event is traditionally capped off with an impressive fireworks display that is set off on Jackson Street, west of the town square.
Allyson Newton and Zander Ruble, Miss and Mister Firecracker, pose for a photograph during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Decorated bikes, tricycles and wagons parade during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Zander Ruble, Mr. Firecracker, in the wagon, and Allyson Newton, Miss Firecracker, lead the parade of decorated bikes, tricycles and wagons during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Brothers Daniel and Dorian Reed during the bike, tricycle and wagon parade at the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Debra Slone helps Carson Lazzell master walking on stilts during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Liam Emch figures out how to work the pump to fill up his water glass during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
The car show during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Bruce Biddle with his 1967 VW Westfalia at the car show during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Ana Marry Waters and Joname Waters share a funnel cake during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
People line up for food at the Hope Fire Department trailer during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Cooper Campbell plays tug of war during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Children play tug of war, girls vs boys, with the help of Debra Slone, center, during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
People mingle at the picnic tables on the square during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
People gather in the square during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Chad Miller, president, announces the names of the Grand Marshall for 2022 Hope Heritage Days during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Randy Gearhart, at left, and Teresa Gearhart, at right, smile as they are named the 2022 Hope Heritage Days Grand Marshals during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022.Carla Clark | For The Republic
Teresa and Randy Gearheart, at left, named the 2022 Grand Marshals for Hope Heritage Days, with their grand daughter Gabby Gearhart, Chad Miller, president, Jenni Richards, secretary, and Jessica Decker Brown, treasurer, during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Susan Thayer Fye introduces Jessica Deckard Brown during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
Jessica Deckard Brown, called in to break a tie, makes her choice for the apple pie contest. The winner being Angie Behrman, during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
The judges for the apple pie contest, John Newton, at left, Kile Brown, Donju Taylor, Rowan Newton watching, and Jeff Britton, with Trina Newton, at right, who was in charge of the contest during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
People listen as the Banister Family band performs during the Hope Old Fashioned Independence Day, in Hope, Indiana, Friday, July 1, 2022. Carla Clark | For The Republic
