Indianapolis, IN
Retro Indy: Every 50 years NYE starts a national birthday celebration
New Year’s Day 2026 will mark the beginning of the nation’s semiquincentennial, or 250th birthday year. Throughout U.S. history, each 50-year increment since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 has sparked a year-long celebration. In many of these years, the nation’s birthday party kicked off with festivities on New Year’s Eve.
For the nation’s 200th birthday in 1976, a crowd of 40,000 people in Philadelphia started the year huddled outside in the frigid December weather to watch the nation’s most famous symbol of liberty slide down a ramp outside Independence Hall and roll by on a cart.
The historic move of the Liberty Bell from its home for the past 223 years to a new glass pavilion 100 yards away took place at midnight on New Year’s Eve to mark the start of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.
Although the Liberty Bill remained silent during its short journey, Indianapolis residents heard bells that evening. The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis and the Knights of Columbus encouraged area churches to ring their bells continuously for 15 minutes at midnight as 1975 slipped into 1976 as a public expression of thankfulness for the freedom of worship guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and to celebrate the beginning of America’s 200th birthday year.
Offering a more secular way to ring in 1976, Indianapolis Jaycees hosted a $25-per-couple bicentennial party at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Attendees were treated to a bottle of champagne, breakfast and the chance to win a vacation at one of four historic East Coast cities. Prizes were awarded for “the most patriotic costume,” although what exactly constituted a patriotic costume was not outlined in the invitation.
The downtown Holiday Inn featured double rooms for only $17.76 on New Year’s Eve, plus a champagne buffet and dancing for an additional $2 per couple. Any guest who woke up on New Year’s Day 1976 with a hazy memory of the reason for the previous evening’s festivities would certainly have been reminded as soon as they saw the 333 bicentennial signs that had been installed on utility poles in the Mile Square by city workers on New Year’s Eve.
The celebrations marking the start of the nation’s sesquicentennial 50 years earlier were a little drier though no less festive on New Year’s Eve 1925. Prohibition was in effect, and two days before the holiday law enforcement officials raided 40 pool rooms, drug stores and other locations suspected of liquor violations. Indianapolis residents were warned that more arrests would follow on New Year’s Eve.
The crackdown on illegal drinking did not dampen the festivities in downtown Indianapolis. Approximately 1,200 people crowded into the Columbia Club for a dinner-dance, while a similar number partied at the Athletic Club. Some hotels hosted parties, and the Broadway Burlesque theater featured a midnight performance by the Red Hot Snappy Girly Girl Company.
But the highlight of New Year’s Eve 1925 was listening to the ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia at the stroke of midnight to celebrate 150 years of American independence. Indianapolis stores experienced a run on radios during the Christmas season, and many local residents hosted radio parties in their homes where friends could dance to music, guzzle bootleg beverages, and hear the Liberty Bell ring.
Although the Liberty Bell was quiet on New Year’s Eve 1875, bells rang in Indianapolis to celebrate the first day of the nation’s centennial in 1876 after local leaders proposed “a general ringing of bells, firing of salutes, and flinging to the breeze the Stars and Stripes.”
The city’s businessmen were also invited to the Board of Trade at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day 1876 “to celebrate by appropriate exercises” the start of the centennial year. Given the city’s abundance of taverns and saloons, it’s probably safe to say that the only sort of exercises that were appropriate for the morning after New Year’s Eve did not involve actual strenuous physical activity.
Libby Cierzniak is a retired attorney who has written extensively about Indianapolis history for HistoricIndianapolis.com and in her own blog, Indypolitan.com. She is a frequent guest on Hoosier History Live and a regular contributor to Retro Indy. Contact her via Indypolitan.com.
Indianapolis, IN
How to Watch 2026 Indianapolis SX, Talladega GNCC, and MXGP of Argentina Live on TV – Racer X
The ninth round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will take place on Saturday, March 7, as Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the Indianapolis Supercross. This will be the third round of the 250SX East Division championship and will be our second Triple Crown event of the ’26 season.
Check out how to watch the Indianapolis SX below, plus check out the full race day schedule, the entry lists, injury report, track maps, AMA national numbers refresher, live timing link, and anything and everything else you need to know for Indianapolis for Saturday.
What you need to know the most for the Indianapolis SX: the Triple Crown races begin just after 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific.
On Saturday, qualifying can still be seen on Race Day Live beginning at 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT on Peacock. The Race Day Live broadcast will end with the two last chance qualifier races to determine the gate picks for the main program/night show Triple Crown races.
The SMX Video pass broadcast—which is available only outside of the United States—will start at the same time. Once again, there are Spanish and French broadcasts as a part of the 2026 SMX Video Pass this year, just as they were last year.
Viewers can also listen to audio from the full night show broadcast each and every weekend of SMX in its entirety on SiriusXM Radio (with Indianapolis also starting at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific).
The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series is back in action this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The Talladega GNCC will have both Saturday’s pro ATVs (2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST) and Sunday’s pro bikes (1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST) broadcasted live by the RacerTV crew.
And the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) kicks off this weekend with the MXGP of Argentina on Saturday (qualifying) and Sunday (points-paying motos). You can watch the action live on both days on MXGP-TV.com or catch the delayed broadcast of the second motos on CBS Sports (might want to DVR this with the late night time!).
Indianapolis, IN
Chase Sexton out for at least another round, Indianapolis Supercross, with practice injuries
Chase Sexton will miss at least one more round of the SuperMotocross World Championship to heal from injuries suffered in practice prior to the Daytona Supercross, the Kawasaki Racing team announced on social media. He will miss Round 9 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Sexton got off to a disappointing start with his new team, finishing eighth in the season-opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. He rallied to finish fourth the following week in San Diego after coming out of the gates slowly, and then won his first race with the team in the second Anaheim event.
With a forthcoming off-week following the Indianapolis Supercross, Drew Adams could return in time for the East / West Showdown in Birmingham.
Since then, his best finish has been fifth, which he scored in the Houston Triple Crown event and in Seattle.
After missing Daytona, Sexton is fifth in the championship standings, tied with Justin Cooper at 49 points behind the leader, Hunter Lawrence.
An off-week follows the Indianapolis Supercross, giving Sexton additional time to heal.
Dylan Ferrandis hurt his thumb in a Daytona heat race, but an MRI reveals there are no broken bones.
Indianapolis, IN
Find your furry friend at Lucky Tails Adoption Event in Indianapolis, all fees waived
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Feeling lonely and in need of a friend?
Check out Lucky Tails Adoption Event on Saturday, March 14, hosted by Indianapolis Animal Care Services. All fees will be waived and every pet available has been microchipped, spayed or neutered, and is up to date on vaccinations.
To make the transition even easier for you and your new companion, each new parent will receive a goody bag of necessities. There will be adoption counselors at the event to help you with any questions and to help you find a pet that best fits your lifestyle.
Last month, 59 animals found new homes during IACS’ Valentine’s Day Adoption event. The shelter hopes more animals can strike gold and find their forever home at this month’s event. “Our goal is to make as many matches as possible between our animals and the people who are meant to love them,” said IACS Director, Amanda Dehoney-Hinkle.
The vent will be held at the shelter located at 2600 South Harding Street. IACS also has four upcoming weekend “Pop-Up” adoption events around the city:
- March 21 from noon to 3 p.m. at PetSmart, 9749 East Washington Street.
- March 28 from noon to 3 p.m. at PetSmart, 7801 US 31 South.
- April 11 from noon to 3 p.m. at Puppy Playground, 7224 Rockville Road.
- April 18 from noon to 3 p.m. at City Dogs Grocery, 1028 Virginia Avenue.
View adoptable pets here.
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