Greenfield, Indiana – A vibrant sea of students flooded the streets of downtown Greenfield for the highly-anticipated Riley Festival Parade of Flowers, which unfolded shortly after noon on Friday.
Approximately 350 third graders hailing from all four Greenfield-Central elementary schools, along with fourth graders from Southern Hancock County schools, joined hands in celebrating this cherished downtown Greenfield tradition, one that boasts a lineage stretching back generations.
Seventeen-year-old Zachary VanDyke, who vividly remembers participating in the parade as a child, shared his sentiments, stating, “It was such a big deal to get out of school and come down to place the flowers at the courthouse.” This year, VanDyke returned to the parade, this time as a tuba player with the Greenfield-Central High School marching band.
Setting the tone for the younger participants, the high school band led the procession. These students, brimming with enthusiasm, carried flowers to be placed at the base of the James Whitcomb Riley statue, a prominent landmark in front of the Hancock County Courthouse. At this juncture, they passed the flowers to members of the Riley Festival queen’s court and Greenfield’s Mayor, Chuck Fewell, who then handed them over to dedicated volunteers. These volunteers meticulously arranged the stems within wire mesh at the statue’s base.
By the time the last student had passed through, the base was adorned with a vibrant tapestry of blossoms, which will remain in place throughout the four-day fall festival.
For Mayor Fewell, this was a poignant moment, as it marks the conclusion of his ten-year tenure as the city’s mayor. He reflected, “The flower parade has always been a very special part of the Riley Festival.”
The outgoing mayor had promised sunny skies for the parade, countering the previous day’s rain-soaked opening ceremonies. Fortunately, his prediction came true, as participants and onlookers basked in the warm sunlight while the marching band led the procession through Main and State streets, weaving their way between the festival booths.
As the parade unfolded, festivalgoers and proud parents and grandparents lined the streets to witness the joyous spectacle.
One delighted parent, Matt Best, took a half-day off from work to travel from the north side of Indianapolis in order to see his daughter, 8-year-old Izzy, march down the street clutching a carnation. He reminisced about his own childhood experiences, saying, “I remember coming to the Riley Festival when I was a little kid.” Best, who grew up in Shelby County, made it a yearly tradition to join his grandmother at the Riley Festival.
On this Friday, new memories were etched into the collective consciousness as students, families, and festivalgoers alike reveled in the time-honored tradition of young ones clutching flowers to celebrate the Riley Festival.
While the festival draws an estimated 65,000 to 70,000 visitors annually, local residents emphasize its unique place in the hearts of Hancock County residents.
Nine-year-old Liam Caruthers, clutching a red carnation in anticipation of the parade’s start, expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m excited about being in the parade for the first time.” Liam, a fourth-grader at Brandywine Elementary School in New Palestine, had been studying Riley’s poems in class. Last week, he created a drawing of a sunset inspired by Riley’s poem, “A Summer Afternoon.”
“This was the first year since COVID struck in 2020 that a school system outside Greenfield has participated in the parade,” said Dan Jack, director of human resources for the Greenfield-Central Schools. Liam’s teacher, Casey Johnson, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to accompany her students to the parade, stating, “They’re so excited to be here, and so are we.” She clutched a bucket of red carnations close to her chest, symbolizing the students’ vibrant participation in this cherished community event.
