New Harmony celebrates Fourth of July with annual program, golf cart parade and picnic

The Friends of the Working Men's Institute will kick off New Harmony's Fourth of July 2016 celebration at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 4, 2016 at the Atheneum with their annual Fourth of July program.

The program, co-sponsored by University of Southern Indiana and New Harmony Kiwanis, will feature Boy Scout Troop 386 presenting the flags, a performance of patriotic songs from the Community Choir, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Curt Schmitt, and a discussion by Connie Weinzapfel, director of Historic New Harmony, a department within USI Outreach and Engagement, on how she has been inspired by history.

Following the program, there will be a decorated golf cart parade from the Atheneum through town ending at Maclure Park, where the golf carts will be judged and prizes awarded.

At Maclure Park, festivities will continue with a community-wide picnic. The New Harmony Kiwanis will cook hot dogs and hamburgers that can be purchased for a nominal fee and Bob Minnette and the Dixieland Society will perform patriotic music from the bandstand.

During their early celebrations of the Fourth of July, members of the Harmonie Society would invite area residents into their community offering locally brewed beer to their guests. USI and Historic New Harmony will continue this tradition by providing free root beer. 

For further information, please contact Erin McCracken Merris at 812-682-4488 or at emccracken@usi.edu.