CELEBRATE INDIANA’S BICENTENNIAL AT HOOSIER HOMECOMING

Hoosier Homecoming is a free, family-friendly event celebrating Indiana’s 200th birthday

Hoosiers are invited to make their way to the Indiana Statehouse Campus in downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. for Hoosier Homecoming. This Indiana Bicentennial Commission signature event offers an afternoon of free family fun.

“One of the most exciting things about the Bicentennial year is the Hoosier pride I have seen as I’ve travelled the state,” said First Lady and Indiana Bicentennial Ambassador Karen Pence. “Hoosier Homecoming is a day for all Hoosiers to celebrate their great state together and be part of this historic year!”

The aim of the event is to bring Hoosiers together in honor of Indiana’s 200th birthday. The day will boast historic programming including the dedication of Bicentennial Plaza, the Statehouse Education Center and two public art pieces. Entertainment will include the Hunter Smith Band – that sings the official song of the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration, “Indiana Moon” – along with Cook & Belle, and others.

It will also be a day of learning as reenactors of well-known Hoosiers roam the campus and free, self-guided Statehouse tours are offered. Families will enjoy completing the Indiana Humanities scavenger hunt, eating at one of the food trucks, exploring artisan booths and interactive experiences.

The Bicentennial Torch Relay will culminate in Marion County on Saturday, October 15. The 3,200 mile journey, designed by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD), is meant to inspire and unify Hoosiers. The over 2,200 community-nominated torchbearers will have passed the torch through the state’s 92 counties, symbolically connecting communities and generations to ignite Indiana’s future.

“The relay is intended to be a unifying moment in our history, a rallying cry for Indiana pride,” said Mark Newman, executive director of IOTD. “And there is no better way to accomplish that than by honoring our most precious resource, our people.”

The route will begin in the morning at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and wind its way through mid-town into the downtown area. The final stop will be the Indiana Statehouse during theHoosier Homecoming celebration.

The torch will be used to illuminate the everlasting light for Indiana in one of the two dedicated public art pieces, called Lux Aeterna (Eternal Light), by New York artist Osman Akan. The sculpture is part of the new Bicentennial Plaza located on the west side of the statehouse grounds. The everlasting light will serve as an homage to the state’s first 200 years and an inspiration for generations of Hoosiers to come.

Free parking for the event will be available in the Senate Avenue and Washington Street parking garages. For more information about the event visit www.indiana2016.org.