For Immediate Release: June 27, 2023
Media Contact: Max Wing | max@downtownindy.org
First ever ‘Downtown Indy’s Fourth Fest presented by UA Local 440’ to pair street festival with fireworks spectacle
Live entertainment, food & drink leading up to 20-minute firework event at the American Legion Mall
INDIANAPOLIS - - Next Tuesday, Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) will debut a new and improved take on the city’s long held 4th of July tradition, with a brand-new street festival and spectacular fireworks display near the American Legion Mall. Downtown Indy’s Fourth Fest presented by UA Local 440 will kick-off at 6 p.m. with live music, food trucks, ice cream stands, and beer and wine on North St. between Meridian and Pennsylvania, followed by a 10:10 p.m. fireworks launch from the top of the 500 N. Meridian building. UA Local 440, representing more than 2,300 workers in the mechanical piping industry across Central Indiana, serves as this year’s presenting sponsor in addition to the Capital Improvement Board, Visit Indy and stage sponsor Indiana Donor Network and Donate Life Indiana.
Since 1971, Indianapolis’ Downtown fireworks display was shot off of the Regions Tower – originally known as the Indiana National Bank building. With the construction of new residential units on once-vacant lots along Delaware and New York streets, fire code and safety protocols necessitated a move in 2021. Since then, the Downtown fireworks display has been shot off of the 500 N. Meridian Building, just south of the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
This year, DII invites Central Indiana residents to enjoy the fireworks from the American Legion Mall and Indiana War Memorial grounds – the best views in the city -- and explore this year’s inaugural pre-event street festival, featuring on-site vendors ranging from Gordon’s Milkshake Bar to Kilroy’s Bar & Grill. The Indiana Donor Network/Donate Life Indiana stage will be activated beginning at 6 p.m. with live entertainment and pre-event interviews emceed by Radio-One personalities. High-energy party band Toy Factory is set to headline with opening act Pavel & Direct Contact, a Jazz, Salsa, and Latin-infused pop band.
“For nearly five decades, Indianapolis families enjoyed Downtown’s 4th of July fireworks, scattered across the city at various viewing locations. Now, as we mark the third year for the Downtown firework’s new location, we are aiming to introduce Central Indiana families to a new favorite 4th of July tradition – a street festival that combines local music and Downtown vendors, with the best view of the fireworks in the city,” said DII President and CEO Taylor Schaffer.
Fireworks will be synced to popular patriotic and themed music aired on local Radio One radio stations WTLC, Hank FM and WIBC. The public is encouraged to arrive early, stay late, and have a parking plan in place. Downtown parking options can be found HERE. 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 from 10–10:30 p.m.
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About Downtown Indy, Inc.
Founded in 1993, Downtown Indy, Inc. is a public/private partnership existing to improve Downtown, and is also known as Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. As a private, not-for-profit organization, Downtown Indy, Inc. is uniquely positioned to address issues that affect the area’s growth and well-being. Downtown Indy, Inc. focuses on development, management, activation, and marketing to advance Downtown as a great place to live, learn, work and play.
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.
