The Haynes Apperson Festival is a vibrant, three-day celebration in Kokomo, Indiana, honoring the city’s rich automotive heritage and community spirit. It takes place from July 3 to 5, 2025, primarily at Foster Park and downtown Kokomo, offering a family-friendly atmosphere with a diverse range of activities including live music concerts, car shows, parades, sports events, carnival rides, and fireworks.

Festival Environment and Surroundings:
The event is set in Foster Park, a central outdoor venue in downtown Kokomo, which transforms into a lively festival ground filled with food vendors, entertainment stages, carnival rides, and sports activities. The atmosphere combines nostalgic pride in Kokomo’s automotive history with festive, summery fun for all ages. The vibe is community-oriented, with thousands of locals and visitors gathering to celebrate Kokomo’s legacy as the “City of Firsts.” The event is accessible to those with disabilities, ensuring inclusiveness.

Festival History and Founding:
The festival is named after Elwood Haynes and the Apperson Brothers, pioneering automotive inventors from Kokomo whose innovations significantly shaped early automotive development. The festival honors their legacy while highlighting Kokomo’s reputation for innovation, craftsmanship, and community pride. It has become a signature summer tradition in Kokomo, celebrated annually with growing attendance.

Major Activities and Highlights:

Automotive Celebrations:
- A commemorative car show and cruise celebrating vintage and historic automobiles linked to Haynes and Apperson’s legacy.
- A commemorative car cruise route starts on July 3 at 3:00 p.m., visiting historical sites important to the automotive pioneers, followed by a Pioneer Auto Club Cruise-In at Foster Park from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Parade:
- Held on Saturday, July 4 at 2:00 p.m., the Haynes Apperson Parade features numerous vehicles and floats celebrating both Kokomo’s automotive history and national independence, winding through downtown Kokomo with families lining the streets.
Sports Festival:
- A broad, competitive sports festival with activities including karate, 3-on-3 basketball, canoeing, tennis, volleyball, a 5K run, pole vaulting, and a cornhole tournament, offering something for athletes of all ages.
Carnival and Food Vendors:
- Foster Park hosts an array of carnival rides and food vendors, providing a festive fairground atmosphere with a variety of dining options and kids’ entertainment.
Live Music Concerts:
- Free nightly concerts at Foster Park with VIP seating available for purchase. The 2025 lineup is:
  - July 3: Great White (classic ’80s/’90s rock)
  - July 4: Night Ranger (rock hits with crowd favorites)
  - July 5: Mark Farner’s American Band with special guest Henry Lee Summer, followed by the grand fireworks finale.
Fireworks:
- The festival concludes with a fireworks show on the evening of July 5, immediately following the concert, lighting up the night sky over Foster Park.

Rough Schedule Overview:

Date	Time	Event	Location
July 3	3:00 p.m.	Commemorative Car Cruise Route Start	Various historic sites → Foster Park
July 3	5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Pioneer Auto Club Cruise-In	Foster Park
July 3	Evening	Live Music: Great White	Foster Park Stage
July 4	2:00 p.m.	Haynes Apperson Parade	Downtown Kokomo
July 4	Various times	Sports Festival Competitions	Various venues
July 4	Evening	Live Music: Night Ranger	Foster Park Stage
July 5	Various times	Ongoing festival activities: rides, vendors, sports	Foster Park
July 5	Evening	Live Music: Mark Farner’s American Band + Henry Lee Summer	Foster Park Stage
July 5	Post-concert	Fireworks Show	Foster Park

Overall, the Haynes Apperson Festival combines nostalgic automotive heritage with contemporary community celebrations — offering entertainment and activities for all interests and ages in a welcoming, festive environment. It draws families, car enthusiasts, sports fans, and music lovers alike to celebrate Kokomo’s legacy and summer spirit.

About This Festival