Mark Farner, Night Ranger, Great White, Henry Lee Summer come to Kokomo July 3-5
Join the Kokomo Downtown Farmers' Market from 9 a.m. until to noon at the corner of Mulberry & Washington Streets tomorrow, Saturday, May 10! The market is warming up along with the weather and will offer loads of fresh foods and flowers, handmade goods, fragrant candles and herbs, and so much more!
Bring your bags, your friends, and your appetite. Let's make 2025 the best Farmers' Market season yet!
The organizers of Kokomo's Haynes Apperson Festival have unveiled its live music lineup for this year's three-day annual event, taking place July 3-5, 2025. And it is filled with nostalgic hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
"Foster Park will be jamming this summer with three nights of great music that is sure to get everyone in the singalong mode," said Festival Chairman Paul Wyman. "Kokomo, get ready to rock out and celebrate our community with your neighbors at the Haynes Apperson Festival."
Opening the Festival this year will be GRAMMY® Award nominated rock band Great White with their hit songs "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," "Save Your Love," "Rock Me" and more. They will appear on stage in Foster Park on Thu., July 3.
"We are excited to have Great White join this year's lineup on opening night, bringing with them songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s that we all know and love," said Wyman.
On Friday, July 4, Night Ranger will take the stage, returning to Kokomo after performing as part of the City of Kokomo’s Summer Concert Series in 2011.
"Incredible songs like ‘Sister Christian,’ ‘Don't Tell Me You Love Me,’ ‘Sentimental Street,’ and ‘You Can Still Rock in America’ will create a fun sing-along evening in the park," said Wyman. "Night Ranger lived at the top of the charts for many years."
Closing out the festival on Saturday, July 5, will be the duo of headliner and legendary rock artist Mark Farner's American Band along with special guest opener Henry Lee Summer. Henry Lee will kick off the night with hits like "I Wish I Had a Girl," and then Mark Farner will headline.
Farner was the original singer and guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad and produced many top 100 hits over the years.
“Expect to hear hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s such as "The Loco-Motion," "Some Kind of Wonderful," "We're An American Band," "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)'," and all the way through some current music that he has put together to make for an exciting night in the park leading up to the fireworks show," Wyman exclaimed.
All concerts are free and family-friendly. Those planning to attend the shows are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating around the pavilion.
While the concerts are free, VIP tickets will be available for seating close to the stage for $20 per show for all three nights. You can purchase VIP tickets starting June 5 at The Wyman Group, 1533 W. Lincoln Road, and Palmer's Jewelry, 101 E. Sycamore St.
"We couldn't be more excited for this year's musical lineup, but live music is just a portion of the many activities planned," Wyman said. "This festival is a celebration of our community's rich history and automotive heritage. More than just a celebration of cars, it's a tribute to the ingenuity and passion that have driven our community's progress and connected us all.
“Our community is on the move, and our festival gives us a chance to celebrate all the great things we have accomplished."
The festival will also feature food vendors, carnival rides, a sports festival, car shows, and much more. A local favorite, the Haynes Apperson Parade will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5, in downtown Kokomo.
"It's always wonderful to see the diverse array of cars, floats, and individuals taking part in the parade every year," Wyman said. "Organizations take great pride in their floats and show off their community spirit!"
An entire section of the parade will honor veterans and active-duty military personnel.
For more information on the festival, visit haynesappersonfestival.org or stay up to date with festival announcements on the Haynes-Apperson Festival’s official Facebook page.