• Founders Week Parade; Rock & Glow, June 24
• Plus: Trivia Night, Blood Drive, Ice Cream Social, Family Night and Logo Event!
CHARLESTOWN, Ind. – Charlestown is set to celebrate Founders Week 2023 with a week packed full of family-friendly events.
The annual festival takes place June 20-24, highlighted by the popular Rock & Glow, a hot air balloon glow and a concert on Saturday, June 24 from 6 to 11 p.m. The event will be held at Charlestown Little League Park, offering tethered balloon rides (weather pending). Once the night sets in, balloons will glow in the background of the stage.
Providing the tunes will be Nashville-based artist Jason Lee McKinney Band from 9 to 11 p.m. Opening the musical entertainment will be The Lost Boys from 6:30 to 8:30.
Parking will be reserved at the Family Activities Park, Pleasant Ridge Elementary and Charlestown High School with golf cart transportation to the event site (no on the street parking at Monroe or Level is permitted).
An exciting new event for 2023 is a Brick Building Clinic on Tuesday, June 20 at Charlestown Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inspired by Charlestown student Nehemiah Balanean, young people ages 8-12 will design, build, and layout their vision of Charlestown in Legos. They’ll build a city scape, imagine a new Rose Island Amusement Park, and build the new Charlestown Elementary School. This event is made possible by donations from the University of Louisville J.B. School of Engineering, CORE Construction, Greater Clark Educational Foundation, Maker 13, Copper Kettle, and Zaxby’s of Jeffersonville.
The Brick Building Clinic kicks off a wonderful week of events. Also on Tuesday, June 20, the Moore Family Ice Cream Social and Gospel Singing takes place at the Family Activities Park from 6 to 10 p.m. The park will be open for free.
Wednesday, June 21 features a Classic TV-inspired Trivia Night at the Arts & Enrichment Center. The event is free with prizes for the top teams. Also at the A&E Center, a Blood Drive takes place on Thursday, June 22 from noon to 4 p.m.
A free Family Fun Night featuring water slides, an amateur corn hole tournament and more takes place on Friday, June 23 at the Family Activities Park from 6 to 9 p.m.
Founders Week hits the climax on a packed Saturday, June 24. The Pirate Dash 5K takes place at Charlestown State Park at 8:30 a.m. The Founders Week Parade travels down Market Street at 10 a.m. Following the parade, the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana (grand marshals of the parade) welcome visitors to their wigwam set up in Greenway Park until 3 p.m. At the same time, the Backyard Classics Car Show will be on the city square and the Saturdays on the Square Market shifts to Greenway Park.
Serving as the prince and princess are Eli Flanagan and Emersyn Shireman.
To stay up-to-date on Founders Week events and details, visit www.CityofCharlestown.com or follow the city’s social media pages.