For Immediate Release: July 01, 2025
Media Contact: Max Wing | max@downtownindy.org
Downtown Indy’s Fourth Fest presented by UA Local 440 celebrates third year
Independence Day tradition to bring street party and fireworks spectacle to American Legion Mall
INDIANAPOLIS - - This Friday, July 4, Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) will return with its annual Downtown Indy’s Fourth Fest presented by UA Local 440, the third year as a new and improved take on Downtown’s long-held Independence Day tradition. This year’s Fourth Fest will feature a street festival presented by Donate Life Indiana and Indiana Donor Network beginning at 6 p.m. with food trucks, ice cream stands, beverages, and a Kids Zone on St. Clair Street and American Legion Mall. DII’s festival stage on North Street will entertain fans with live musical performances in addition to pre-event programming from Indiana Donor Network and Donate Life Indiana. Fireworks begin at 10:15 p.m. from the top of the 500 N Meridian building, culminating with a grand finale presented by the Indiana Fever in partnership with the 2025 WNBA All-Star Host Committee. For the best view of the fireworks, attendees can set up blankets and chairs on the Indiana War Memorial Grounds and American Legion Mall.
“Downtown Indy’s Fourth Fest continues to bring Central Indiana together for a family-friendly celebration of our country and our community,” said DII President & CEO Taylor Schaffer. “This Friday, tens of thousands will gather at American Legion Mall for outstanding live music, delicious food trucks, kid-focused entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks show. Fourth Fest has truly become a favorite Downtown tradition and the epicenter of July 4th festivities in our city, and the foot traffic proves it with more than 23,000 attendees joining the celebration each of the last two years.”
UA Local 440, representing more than 3,200 workers in the mechanical piping industry across Central Indiana, returns as this year’s Fourth Fest presenting sponsor. Bob Stieneker, Business Manager at UA Local 440, shared his enthusiasm for this year’s festival and ongoing partnership with DII, “For the third consecutive year, UA Local 440 is proud to partner with Downtown Indy, Inc. to deliver an unforgettable Fourth of July experience in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis. Throughout our organization’s 122-year history, our members have worked to ensure that Indianapolis, both Downtown and city-wide, has the plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and process piping systems it needs to thrive. We hope you’ll join us this Friday as we continue to elevate this free community celebration.”
The Indiana Donor Network and Donate Life Indiana stage will encourage attendees to learn more about the lifesaving implications of becoming an organ and tissue donor and sign up to become a donor on-site from 6-10 p.m. with live entertainment and pre-event interviews emceed by Radio-One personalities. The eight-piece pop, R&B, dance band Living Proof is set to headline alongside Pavel & Direct Contact, drawing from Latin-jazz and salsa influences, for the second consecutive year. “We’re excited to be part of Downtown Indy’s Fourth of July celebration once again,” said Kellie Tremain, president and CEO of Indiana Donor Network. “It’s a great chance to connect with the community, celebrate the generous Hoosiers who have saved lives through donation, and remind people how easy it is to make a difference just by saying ‘yes’ to being an organ and tissue donor.”
This year’s event is also made possible through the support of additional event sponsors, including Visit Indy and Indiana529, as well as the Indiana War Memorials Commission. Local outlet WXIN-TV Fox 59 will run an exclusive live featurette of the 20-minute fireworks display in addition to a countdown and pre-event programming starting at 10 p.m.
Fourth Fest will include a total of 13 different food and drink vendors, from authentic tacos, tortas and quesadillas from Las Tortugas to sweet treats from Gordon's Milkshakes. Drink selections will be available for purchase, including beer from Upland Brewing, canned cocktails from Shake Up, and wine from Mallow Run. The street festival will once again incorporate a Kids Zone full of family-friendly activations including rock climbing and inflatables.
Fireworks spectators can synchronize their fireworks viewing experience to popular patriotic and themed music aired on local Radio One radio stations including WTLC-FM, WIBC 93.1 FM, Country 97.1 HANK FM, WHHH Hot 100.9, and La Mega 105.1 Indy. Downtown residents and Central Indiana commuters are encouraged to arrive early, stay late, and have a parking plan in place for Fourth Fest. More than 73,000 affordable parking spots – from convenient street parking to garage spots – are viewable on DII’s website at www.downtownindy.org/explore/parking
For more information about Fourth Fest, visit: www.downtownindy.org/events/fourth-fest
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About Downtown Indy, Inc.
For more than three decades, Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) has partnered with businesses, property owners, and Downtown stakeholders to ensure Downtown Indianapolis is the vibrant, welcoming, and fun heart of Indiana’s cultural and economic life. DII serves as Downtown’s primary place-based management organization, collaborating and executing on large-scale events, public space programming, cleanliness and beautification initiatives, and investments in public safety. www.downtownindy.org
About UA Local 440
Headquartered in Indianapolis, the men and women of UA Local 440 provide highly skilled tradesmen who fabricate, install and service piping systems. The members of UA Local 440 Plumbers, Steamfitters, & HVACR Service Technicians are proud of their union membership and community leadership and recognize the commitment of working men and women throughout their communities and the role they play in Indiana’s economic stability. UA Local 440 is proud to be an affiliate member of the Central Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council and the AFL-CIO.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and eye donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of more than 285 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
About the Downtown fireworks launch location
In concert with the Indianapolis Fire Department, Downtown Indy, Inc., alongside other city officials and pyrotechnic professionals, will continue to safely launch fireworks from inside the Downtown Mile Square. Due to fire safety ordinances, a safe “fall-out” perimeter is required that is free of residences, hospitals and hotels and other similar spaces where overnight sleeping occurs, including homeless shelters and jails. Additionally, shooting off large scale, aerial fireworks should be a safe, audible distance from the Indianapolis Zoo. The 500 North Meridian building meets the necessary criteria. With new residences at its base, the Regions Tower no longer meets the necessary criteria for a safe perimeter as it did prior to 2021.
