Dennis DuCiaome waits waits for the start of 4th at the Falls Golf Cart Parade with son Evan, along with (in back) wife Beth and son Sean.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Cole House sits with dog Buddy and (in back) children Libby and Ava at the start of 4th at the Falls Golf Cart Parade.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
The back of the Woodruff golf cart celebrates family member Charlee, 9, whose birthday is Independence Day.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Charlee Woodruff, 9, whose birthday is July 4, is all smiles sitting with grandfather Randall Woodruff, and sister Blake 13 (in back seat), at the start of 4th at the Falls Golf Cart Parade.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Bystanders wave as the golf carts travel west on Water Street along the parade route, which ended at the Sports Complex in Falls Park.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
The cart carrying the 4th at the Falls Golf Cart Parade Grand Marshal Charlotte Kingen travels west on Water Street along the parade route, heading for the Sports Complex in Falls Park.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Hillery Holt drives a golf cart with cousin Whitney Ellingwood — who’s is attempting to bribe the judges with beads and candy — while Whitney’s daughters Parker and Paisley look on.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Felicity Long and Tristan Williams of Fishers pose for a photo in Falls Park with Elaina Long, who’s looking at the flag she’d been running around waving just moments prior.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Artist Christina Malcolm paints Ben Brackman’s face during 4th at the Falls festivities.
Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Stella Luna and the Satellites performs at 4th at the Falls.
Submitted
4th at the Falls featured fireworks at the end.
Submitted
4th at the Falls started with a golf cart parade, continued with children’s activities, games, food and drink, and merchandise vendors, with a live concert and fireworks to complete the celebrations.
Submitted
The golf card winners (from left) Brittany and Jesse Clouse and sons Grant, 5, and Griffin, 8; Tami Chadwick (left) and Alexis Kollros; and Lisa Heck.
Submitted
The golf cart first-place winners, the Clouse family (from left): Brittany, Griffin, Grant and Jesse.
Submitted
PENDLETON — Randall Woodruff said July 4 has been an extra special date in his family ever since his granddaughter, Charlee, 9, was born on that date.
“I say she developed that exuberant personality because she’s always had that big celebration on her birthday,” he said.
This year, that celebration included a ride in Main Street Pendleton’s inaugural 4th at the Falls Golf Cart Parade, which started outside Pendleton Elementary School-
Intermediate and followed a route to the Sports Complex, where the rest of the day’s festivities took place.
“It’s fun,” Charlee said while sitting in the front seat of her grandpa’s golf cart, smiling, describing how it is having her birthday on Independence Day.
The Woodruff cart was among 24 vehicles registered in the parade.
Cole House was also in the parade with a golf cart purchased just a few months ago; the family dog, Buddy, a bichon frisé, was riding shotgun. House’s daughters Libby and Ava rode in the back rear-facing seats.
“I think the best part about Pendleton is the community and the park-centric focus and small-town feel,” said House, whose family moved to town last fall.
The parade had a grand marshal — Charlotte Kingen, a U.S. Air Force Airman First Class, 1952-1955.
The vehicles — and in most cases their occupants — were festooned in patriotic colors, and each cart made a brief stop just inside the main entrance to Falls Park to be judged. A three-person panel discussed and took notes about each vehicle.
The winners were announced later at the Sports Complex: Clouse family — first place ($75 gift certificate to Wolfie’s Restaurant); Chadwick family — second place ($50 gift certificate to The Bank Restaurant); and the Heck family — third place ($25 gift certificate to Ohanalulu).
The rest of the 4th at the Falls activities included food trucks, craft vendors, yard games, face painting and balloon art.
Indianapolis cover band Stella Luna and the Satellites performed a concert starting at 7 p.m., leading up to the fireworks at about 10 p.m.
Event organizer Niki Brown said the golf cart parade will be part of next year’s 4th at the Falls event. But before then, the plan is also to add a golf cart component to this year’s Christmas in Pendleton parade in November.