Akron Celebrates ‘A Good Day’ With 4th Events

Akron’s Fourth of July parade and other events were on Thursday, July 4. The theme of the festivities this year was “A Good Day” in honor of late resident Joe Day. He was the posthumous parade grand marshal. Here his family poses for a photo before participating in the parade.

Text, Photos and Videos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — A few rain sprinkles didn’t dampen Akron’s “A Good Day” celebration on Thursday, July 4.

Akron marked the Fourth of July and its 188th birthday with its annual parade and plenty of other events.

This year’s theme, “A Good Day,” recognized late resident Joe Day, who owned Day Hardware and had served as Henry Township Fire Department chief.

Day, the posthumous grand marshal of Thursday’s parade, would often respond to people telling him to “have a good day” with “I am a good Day.”

His vintage firetruck was driven at the front of the parade, with his family wearing matching “Uncle Joe” blue T-shirts and walking and riding on a float farther back.

Following the parade, which included various floats, emergency vehicles, tractors, vintage cars and more, people could enjoy food vendors, watch the volleyball tournament, check out vehicles in the Jim Bucher Memorial Car Show and do other activities at Pike Memorial Park.

People may still catch the fireworks show, set for 10 p.m. July 4, at the park.

A full list of parade winners is below:

2024 Akron 4th of July Parade Winners

Floats

First: Akron Floral – The Bird’s Nest
Second: Earl-Love Funeral Home
Third: Reads

Automobiles

First: The Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine
Second: Hoosier Old Wheels
Third: Kerlin Bus

Tractors

First: Jesse Floor
Second: Randy Greer and Alyssa Bell
Third: International Harvester Collector’s Club – Northern Indiana Chapter No. 33

Marching Units

First: The Joe Day Family
Second: Dillon’s Kids
Third: Tippecanoe Valley High School and Middle School cheerleaders

Band

First: TVHS Viking Guard

Horses

First: Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team
Second: Mizpah Horse Patrol

Honorable Mention

Valley Junior League Champs – Trash Pandas
Neuhart Orchard
Faith Outreach Center VBS

: Day’s vintage firetruck was the first entry in the parade.

: Akron Town Marshal Jake Gearhart drives his police vehicle in the parade.

: The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office’s Matt Utter drives in the parade.

: Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand drives in the parade.

: Aaron Gearhart with the Henry Township Fire Department drives in the parade.

: Rochester firefighter Santanna Shook waves in the parade.

: Fulton County Deputy Coroner Gail Karas, left, and Coroner Jeri Good pose for a photo.

: The Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team, who finished first in the horses’ category, are shown in the parade.

: Members of the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard are shown in the parade.

: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1343 of Rochester’s parade entry is shown.

: Members of the Indiana Patriot Guard, including Russ Bauer driving the front motorcycle, are shown in the parade.

: Miss Akron 2024 Sarah Finney waves.

: Miss Akron 2024 first runner-up Madison Heinzmann rides in the parade.

: Miss Akron 2024 second runner-up Brooklyne White is shown in the parade.

: Miss Sparkler 2024 Camryn Yarian waves.

: Mr. Firecracker 2024 Grant Clevenger reaches for more candy to throw.

: Miss Akron 2023 and Miss Fulton County 2023 Rachel Luce waves.

: Earl-Love Funeral Home’s parade entry, which placed second in the floats’ category, is shown. It’s meant to depict some of Day’s favorite treats.

: Woodlawn Health’s parade entry is shown.

: People walk with the Fulton County Democrats’ float.

: Members of the Fulton County Republican Party are shown with their float.

: The Akron Floral-The Bird’s Nest entry was the top float.

: Hartzler Funeral Home’s parade entry honored Day and his father Dick Day.

: A Pike Lumber Co. truck hauls timber in the parade.

: Michaela Hawley with Kosciusko County Head Start smiles in the parade.

: People watch the parade at the corner of Rochester and Mishawaka streets.

: Tippecanoe Valley High School and Middle School cheerleaders walk in the parade.

: Some Corvettes are shown in the parade.

: Ready to watch the parade are in front from left Sedric Flenar, Samuel Flenar, Shelby Flenar and Simon Flenar. In the back are Sadie Flenar, Sonny Flenar, Kayla Flenar and Reyna Vera.

: Travis Adams, right, and his son Jackson Adams pose with their 1949 Farmall H tractor before participating in the parade.

: People play in the volleyball tournament at Pike Memorial Park after the parade.

: Cameron Duff, left, and Nathan Steininger play cornhole at Olive Branch Church’s booth at the park.

: Randy Jones of Rochester poses with his 1970 Chevy Nova, which was part of the Jim Bucher Memorial Car Show at the park.

: Bud Hammond of Akron preps his 1998 Chevrolet Corvette for the car show.

: Kids enjoy the bounce house at the park.

: Akron’s Field of Honor, which was created in memory of late Army Sgt. Nick Patterson, was up by the Akron Community Center. The field recognizes those who’ve served in the military or as first responders. Shown is a memorial to Day.