🍦 Fireworks, Fruit & Fun Events Around the South Side!

TOGETHER WITH

It’s Wednesday, July 2nd and the South Side is officially buzzing with red, white, and BOOM energy.

Coolers are filling up, sparklers are getting stockpiled, and the hunt for the perfect fireworks spot is in full swing. Whether you’re planning to stake out a spot early or just hoping your neighbor puts on a good show, we’ve got the scoop to help you slide into the holiday weekend in style!

In today’s South Side Scoop:

• 🎆 Franklin Firecracker Festival lights up July 3rd with live music, food, family fun, and fireworks at Youngs Creek Park.

• 🍎 Pleasant View Orchard reopens for summer. Stop by for fresh local produce, apple cider slushies, and weekend concessions.

• 📚️ Wild Geese Bookshop’s “Summer Camp for Grown-Ups” returns with a weeklong celebration of author talks, yoga, book swaps, and more.

Let’s get to it!

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THE DIGEST

Looking for fireworks around the Southside? Keep an eye out for the ✨ emoji in front of events in the Events section; it’s your sign that fireworks are part of the fun!

Franklin Firecracker Festival Thursday

Franklin is gearing up for a festive evening at the Franklin Firecracker Festival this Thursday, July 3rd at Youngs Creek Park. The fun kicks off at 5:30pm with tasty food vendors, a beer and wine garden, and activities for the whole family, including the Penny Lane Photo Bus and JCPL on Wheels. Live music will begin with the Franklin Community Band performing at 5:30pm, followed by Blue River Band from 7-10pm. The night wraps up in patriotic style with a fireworks show lighting up the sky at 10:10pm!

LOCAL BUSINESS

Pleasant View Orchard Opens for the 2025 Season

Pleasant View Orchard kicks off its 2025 season on Wednesday, July 2nd, welcoming visitors daily from 9am-6pm through mid-November. Guests can shop fresh produce like Lodi apples, South Carolina peaches, and more in the orchard’s market. The orchard also features a concession stand on weekends and offers refreshing apple cider slushies every day. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy local flavors and seasonal treats all season long!

Wild Geese Bookshop Launches Third Annual “Summer Camp for Grown-Ups”

Book lovers, mark your calendars: Wild Geese Bookshop is bringing back its popular Summer Camp for Grown-Ups from July 14th to 20th, offering a week packed with literary fun across multiple venues in Franklin. The schedule includes author talks from names like Jo Piazza, Alexis Daria, Lynn Painter, Sarah MacLean, and Kate Quinn, plus activities like yoga, a book swap, and brunch shopping sprees. While the Friday luncheon with Kate Quinn has sold out, there’s still room for readers to join any of the other exciting events. Attendees can pick events à la carte, making this an unmissable summer celebration for bookish adults!

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Have a heartwarming story, a positive community moment, or news about a local business? 💌 We’d love to hear it! Submit your stories for a chance to be featured in the news section of our next newsletter—let’s celebrate the good together!

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WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Wednesday

Regal Summer Movie Express – $1 Family Movies

Regal’s Summer Movie Express is back with $1 family-friendly films every Tuesday and Wednesday morning from June 10th to August 6th! Enjoy classic favorites on the big screen and grab a $5 Snack Pack (drink, popcorn, fruit snacks). This week’s movies: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Wild Robot. Get your tickets here!

• Date & Time: Wednesday, July 2nd | 10:45am

• Location: Regal Greenwood - 461 Greenwood Park South Drive, Greenwood

Rock Painting at Creekside Shelter

Get creative and add some color to your day at this fun, free event hosted by Franklin Parks & Recreation! Drop by the Creekside Shelter in Province Park for a relaxing afternoon of rock painting. All ages are welcome to join in and create unique, painted treasures to take home or leave around the park for others to find.

• Date & Time: Wednesday, July 2nd | 1-3pm

• Location: Creekside Shelter at Province Park - 254 E South St, Franklin

Bargersville Farmer Market

• Date & Time: Wednesday, July 2nd | 5–7pm

• Location: Downtown Bargersville – 24 N Main St, Bargersville

UHF at The Historic Artcraft Theatre

Catch UHF on the big screen at The Historic Artcraft Theatre. In this cult comedy classic, “Weird Al” Yankovic stars as a quirky young man who becomes the unlikely manager of a low-budget TV station, creating bizarre programming that draws the ire of a rival network. This special showing celebrates the Bigger and Weirder Weird Al tour coming to Indianapolis and promises laughs, parodies, and plenty of weirdness! Get your tickets here.

• Date & Time: Wednesday, July 2nd | 7:30pm

• Location: The Historic Artcraft Theatre - 57 N Main St, Franklin

✨ Dream Team Fireworks Night at Grace Assembly of God

Join the fun as the church hosts its annual Dream Team Fireworks Night to celebrate the hard work and dedication of their Dream Team members. The evening kicks off at 8pm in the Worship Center with a special time of celebration and updates, followed by a dazzling private fireworks display for all attendees starting at 9pm. Everyone is welcome, but advance registration is required to attend.

• Date & Time: Wednesday, July 2nd | 8–10:30pm | Fireworks at 9pm

• Location: Grace Assembly of God - 6822 US-31, Whiteland

Thursday

✨ Franklin Firecracker Festival at Youngs Creek Park

Celebrate Independence Day early at the Franklin Firecracker Festival at Youngs Creek Park! Enjoy an evening filled with delicious food vendors, Earl Gray & Sons’ beer and wine garden, and fun activities like the Penny Lane Photo Bus and JCPL on Wheels with kids’ entertainment. Live music kicks off with the Franklin Community Band from 5:30-6:30pm, followed by Blue River Band rocking the stage from 7-10pm. Cap off the night with a dazzling fireworks display beginning at 10:10pm.

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 5:30–11pm | Fireworks at 10:10pm

• Location: DriveHubler.com Amphitheater - 237 W Monroe Street, Franklin

✨Beech Grove Fireworks

Celebrate Independence Day at Beech Grove’s All American Day in the Park! Hosted by the Beech Grove Promoters Club, this free event features lively music, delicious food, entertaining games, and a spectacular fireworks display launching around 10pm. Enjoy tasty bites from vendors like Queso’s Mexican Food, Pierogi Love, Kona Ice, Pull Up BBQ, and more.

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 5:30–11pm

• Location: Sarah T Bolton Park - 1300 Churchman Ave, Beech Grove

✨Fireworks at The Haven at Hickory Stick

Get ready for a festive night at The Haven at Hickory Stick! Enjoy delicious food and live music by Trace Thompson from 6:30-9:30pm, then cap off the evening with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Reservations are encouraged to secure your spot for this fun summer celebration.

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 6:30–10:30pm | Fireworks at 9:45pm

• Location: The Haven at Hickory Stick - 4422 Thompson Road, Greenwood

✨Fireworks at Woodside

Join Woodside Community Church for food and fun starting at 7:30pm. All are welcome to join! Bring a chair and stay for the fireworks at dark.

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 7:30pm | Fireworks at dark

• Location: Woodside Community Church - 1811 S Morgantown Road Greenwood

Free Family Swim Night at Franklin Family Aquatic Center

Make a splash with the whole family every Thursday in June and July! Enjoy free admission and fun in the water at the Franklin Family Aquatic Center!

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 6–8pm

• Location: Franklin Family Aquatic Center – 396 Branigin Blvd, Franklin

Venardos Circus at Greenwood Park Mall

Venardos Circus is bringing its dazzling show to Greenwood Park Mall from July 3rd–13th, featuring jaw-dropping acrobatics, mesmerizing magic, lively music, and more. It’s a modern take on a classic circus, perfect for all ages looking for a bit of wonder and fun this summer. Additional dates include: July 5th, 6th, and 9-13th and times vary by date. Buy your tickets here.

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 3rd | 7pm

• Location: Greenwood Park Mall - 1251 N. U.S. 31, Greenwood

Check out the full summer lineup of concerts, movies, and farmers markets here!

Looking for weekly karaoke, trivia, bingo, and more?

👉 Check out our list of recurring events here!

Upcoming Events You Can’t Miss

This Weekend

• Friday, July 4th: Firework Festival by Mt. Pleasant Christian Fellowship

• Friday, July 4th: Cluster Busters July 4th Open Car Show at Ray Skillman Auto Museum

• Friday, July 4th: NO First Friday in Franklin

• Saturday, July 5th - Sunday, July 6th: Mallow Run Winery Red, White & Blueberry Festival

• Sunday, July 6th: Closing Night Fireworks at the Marion County Fair

Coming Soon

• Tuesday, July 8th: Roberts Camera 4 Week Fundamentals of Photography Class (July 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th) at Craig Park

• Tuesday, July 8th: David Rosenfelt - Authors at JCPL Event at Franklin College

• Wednesday, July 9th: Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show at The Historic Artcraft Theatre

• Saturday, July 12th: The Bejeweled Band: A Taylor Swift Tribute Band at Mallow Run Winery

• Saturday, July 12th: ISBC Family Fun Fair at Cross Church Indy

• Sunday, July 13th - Saturday, July 19th: Johnson County Fair

• Monday, July 14th - Sunday, July 20th: Wild Geese Bookshop Presents: Summer Camp For Grown Ups with 11 Events

• Friday, July 18th: 90s Trivia Night at The Sycamore at Mallow Run

Want more details about these events? Shoot us an email at [email protected], and we will be happy to answer any questions!

WEATHER

Wednesday

86 🌡️ 67 | 🌤️ | 7% | 🌬️ NW 5-10 MPH

Thursday

89 🌡️ 68 | 🌤️ | 19% | 🌬️ W 5-10 MPH

_{*Disclaimer: This forecast was pulled from the weather app the night before and is subject to Indiana’s ever-changing moods—accuracy not guaranteed!}

🎶 LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday

• Slippery Noodle | Slippery Noodle Blues Jam | 8pm

• Tin Roof | Dusty Bo | 9pm

Thursday

• Ale Emporium Greenwood | Craig Thurston (Patio Show) | 6pm

• DriveHubler.com Amphitheater | Blue River Band | 7pm

• Slippery Noodle | Zach Day | 8pm

• The Corner Bar | Phil Pierle Trio | 7pm

• The Haven at Hickory Stick | Trace Thompson | 630pm

• Tin Roof | Pom Teddy | 10pm

• Tried & True | Ben Tatum | 8pm

• Vino Villa | The Sax Guy | 6pm

• Whit’s Inn | Larry Browning | 7pm

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