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Indianapolis might not be the first place you think of when the phrase “cultural diversity” comes up, but maybe it should be - especially when you’re talking about major special events. After all, how many cities have been annually welcoming visitors from all over the country and the world for almost 100 years with events like the Indianapolis 500?

The city has earned the title of “Amateur Sports Capital of the World” by hosting a continual stream of national and international sporting events thanks to a non-stop downtown revitalization plan that started in the 1970s. From the Pan Am Games to Olympic Trials to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, Indy has had it… several times. And every event draws a culturally diverse crowd that loves spending time in our city.

Indy’s six distinct cultural districts (Broad Ripple Village, Fountain Square, The Canal and White River State Park, Mass Ave. Arts & Theater District, Wholesale District and Indiana Avenue) offer appealing dining, entertainment and recreation options for everyone from everywhere. If you can’t find something in Indy that makes you feel at home, you’re not looking very hard.

As executive director of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, central Indiana’s top tourist destination located just 10 minutes northeast of downtown, I get to see people from all walks of life gather regularly for events like the International Festival, FFA National Convention and Indiana State Fair. All these events draw wide varieties of people that have one thing in common – smiles. Everyone loves spending time visiting our city.

But while Indy is great at welcoming folks from all walks of life, the city is also one of the most patriotic places you can find. You can’t go 50 feet without passing by a marker, monument or permanent structure dedicated to the memories of our fallen heroes. In fact, the city is centered by the 284-foot Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, which was the country’s first monument dedicated to the common soldier (somewhat ironic since certain Patriots aren’t so welcome these days, don’t you think?).

So pack up your patriotism and pay us a visit. It will feel like home… no matter where in the world home may be.

Cindy Hoye
Executive Director, Indiana State Fairgrounds
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Featured Guest, It's Our Time Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.