Patriotic pride
Central Indiana residents celebrate Independence Day

Star reporters Rebecca Neal, Lindsay Lyon, Aldrich Tan and Eric Martin contributed to this story.

A touch of rain and a later start for Downtown's fireworks didn't diminish the spirits of patriotic Hoosiers, who celebrated the Fourth of July with many holiday traditions.

Some marked the event by celebrating America's history, while others indulged in culinary offerings and entertainment offered at the many festivals around Central Indiana. Others combed stores for bargains on fireworks, but many left the explosives to the professionals.

Touch of authenticity

Rain didn't hurt the festivities at the President Benjamin Harrison Home -- it enhanced them.
"It rained back then on July 4th, 1888, which is the day we're pretending it is," said Edward Myers, 67, an Eastsider who portrayed Harrison during Tuesday's festivities.
Between rain showers, visitors played croquet and hoops on the front lawn, while others signed a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the carriage house. Volunteers on the front porch dished up ice cream and cold beverages.
"We've always wanted to come out here," said Roger Estes, 36, a Southwestside resident who played hoops with his daughter, Payton, 8.
Myers and others told visitors an account of the activities on July 4, 1888, including the impending arrival of Harrison's grandchild and Harrison's acceptance of the Republican Party's nomination for president. To be exact, he accepted the party's nomination 11 times Tuesday as groups toured the house.
As Harrison, complete with a pot belly and long, combed gray hair, Myers posed for photos with babies and talked politics with visitors. He said he relishes every chance he has to bring history to life.
"When I'm re-enacting, standing in front of everyone, I'm not knowledgeable of the outside world," he said. "Everything is in this house."

Taste of freedom

Freedom tasted delicious at the Taste of Freedom festival Tuesday at the White River State Park.
Twenty restaurants and merchants participated in the event, formerly known as the Taste of Indiana festival, park Director Robert Whitt said.
Typical festival fare was in abundance, but so was eccentric American cuisine, like Gary Cobb's Cajun alligator.
Cobb, 55, Indianapolis, hopes to own his Cajun restaurant. He spices up the gator with green peppers and Cajun seasoning.
"You can't compare it to any other kind of meat," he said.
Cobb's alligator cost four tickets, which were $1.25 each. Some of the profits will go to the Greenfield-Central High School drama department to fund student-directed plays, said volunteer Heather Uuk, 17, Greenfield.
The festival also featured delectable dessert choices. Newcomer Ali Bauer, 10, Greenwood, found a new favorite: strawberry-banana Hawaiian shaved ice from the Maui Wowi stand.
Other guests sampled Gail Smith's award-winning strawberry pizzas from the Almost Home Unique Eatery, Greencastle. Strawberries lay in a mixture of cream cheese and powdered sugar on a walnut-cookie crust.
"Freedom tastes warm and comforting, especially when you are living in a land that is free," Smith said.

A mother's dream

Nera Gilrowski wrapped her arms around her 4-year-old daughter, and the two watched the action onstage during Carmelfest at Civic Square.
They winced as a performer bounced barefoot on a pile of broken beer bottles.
Gilrowski and her family were among hundreds who watched the Blue Monkey Sideshow, one of many entertainment features at Carmelfest. As an immigrant from Costa Rica, she said, the Fourth of July carries special significance for her.
"This holiday makes me realize how blessed I am to live in a place like this, where you can do what you want and be what you want to be," said Gilrowski, 39, Westfield.
"I'm very glad my daughter will grow up here. Things you can only wish for at home, she can have here."
Gilrowski leaned her head on her mother, Eida Delgado, 61, who was visiting from her homeland to celebrate. Delgado never had a career, but she worked in a Del Monte packing plant until she retired. Wanting a different life for her daughter, Delgado encouraged Gilrowski to leave when she was offered a full ride at Ball State University 20 years ago. Gilrowski now thrives as a business analyst.
"The day I became a U.S. citizen was a very good day," Gilrowski said. "I've had unlimited opportunities here, and I'm thankful."

New fireworks law

For Austin Doyle, 14, Nineveh, a change in Indiana law legalizing the use of fireworks on private property was cause for excitement.
"We're going to get to use stuff we've never been able to set off before," Austin said, clutching a box of bottle rockets at the TNT Fireworks stand in Greenwood. "I've always wanted to try these."
His mother, Tina Doyle, wasn't aware the fireworks ban had been lifted but said it helped explain why Austin was more excited about the Fourth than in years past.
"I was wondering why he was talking about buying things that I thought were illegal," she said.
Fireworks sales have been booming, said Calvary Tabernacle Church associate pastor Rob Rodenbush, who has been running the fireworks sale at three locations to raise money for a new school.
"The new law has definitely helped our sales from what they would have been last year," he said.
But Ed Parrot, Greenwood, doubted whether the laws had much effect.
"Most people would probably just be setting them off anyway," he said.
By late Tuesday, most of the boxes had been picked through, but that didn't keep Ed's 6-year-old daughter, Lizzy, from finding what she wanted. Wearing an American flag T-shirt and with her straight brown hair tied back in red, white and blue ribbons, she stood before her father.
"Dad, can I get one or two of these?" she pleaded, holding a pair of smoke grenades.
"Sure, two of those," he answered.
She added the items to a pile of fireworks almost too big for her arms to hold.
"I love to see them get excited about this," Ed said. "It reminds me of when I was a kid."

Family tradition continues

Patricia Cobb, 53, Indianapolis, has seen the fireworks from the University Park for the past 25 years.
Every year, the retired Hoosier brings her family to the park as early as 3 p.m. to get front seats for the show.
Now, she brings her grandchildren -- Gregory Hatcher, 1, Jasmine Hatcher, 3, and Lana Batts, 3 -- to share the tradition.
"Fourth of July is about celebrating what is most important to us: our freedom and our family," Patricia said.
Daylight-saving time has done little to change the family's plans. The later fireworks show lets parents like Patricia's daughter, Lisa Cobb, get to the park earlier to spend time with their kids before the show starts.
But Lisa, 28, was worried that her daughter, Lana, would fall asleep before the fireworks started. Patricia said she prepared the kids for the wait with a late-afternoon nap. She also made enough hamburgers and pasta salad to entertain her family and friends.
Ashley Johnson, 14, and Brittany Johnson, 13, found ways to wait, too. The sisters sat at the fountain, listening to music and chatting with friends. They usually see the show from their Northwestside home, Brittany said.
Patricia said she is used to the Fourth of July being a Monday holiday. She was at first shocked when her children said they had to work Monday.
But she does not support moving the holiday to a Monday.
"It would be like changing your birthday," she said.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Patricia's plan had worked. All three children stayed up long enough to witness the fireworks show coming from the Indiana Square tower at 10 p.m.
WFBQ-FM (94.7) played "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the show.
"I like the green one," Lana said as she waved her little American flag excitedly while fireworks burst in the air.