GREENFIELD — It’s an arts and crafts fair, a rummage sale and a flea market all wrapped up in one.
KidsPlay Inc. hosts its third-annual Arts and Rummage fundraiser at the Hancock County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds, 620 Apple St. For a $1 admission fee, visitors can enjoy perusing resale bargains, homemade crafts and all-day entertainment from local singers, dancers and musicians.
Crafters, collectors or small businesses can rent an 8-foot table for $40, said Frances Hull, the event’s organizer.
Each event is always a little different, Hull said. Booths will feature items from the vendors’ personal collections, so there’s new treasure to be found every year.
Space reservations are going fast, so vendors interested in participating in the all-purpose event should act fast to take advantage of the opportunity to promote their business, Hull said.
“If you want to get a little spring cleaning done early, make sure to contact us,” Hull said.
The event will feature performances from violinists and cloggers from Greenfield’s Hearts Ablaze. Dancers and musicians from Dance East Ballet, IndyForce and CrazyLake Singers also will take the stage to entertain shoppers throughout the day, Hull said.
Hearts Ablaze Studios has held musical and clogging performances at both previous Arts and Rummage fundraising events, said director Cristy Corwin. The studio’s teen group, Inferno, has performed at competitions across the country, including a tryout for America’s Got Talent last year.
Hearts Ablaze Studios is located on a hog farm on the border of New Palestine and Greenfield, so many locals don’t even know who they are, Corwin said. Performing at a local venue helps give the public exposure to some local talent while they shop, she said.
“Most people don’t always know what clogging is, but they hear music and they hear the taps. Before you know it you’ve got a whole crowd forming,” Corwin said.
CrazyLake singer Jamie McDowell is another returning performer to the Arts and Rummage event. She said visitors should expect a few duet performances and a closing group number from the local singing group.
Lending her talents to benefit the arts community is important to McDowell, who has been involved in music and theater for her whole life. Helping out KidsPlay, which is a part of CrazyLake Acting Company, is all about having fun with the group.
“I feel like if I support it, others will support it too,” McDowell said. “[CrazyLake] is like one big family.”
Interested buyers should come hungry, as donuts, coffee, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, hot dogs and candy will be available for purchase throughout the day, said KidsPlay board member Nannie Alldredge.
This is the one fundraiser KidsPlay does per year, which they rely on to cover costumes, set pieces and production costs, Alldredge said. KidsPlay Incorporated tries to avoid asking children to pay production fees, so children from all financial backgrounds can enjoy getting involved in community theater, she said.
“It’s great to see when the kids first start out and you get to watch them progress,” Alldredge said. “You watch them grow throughout the years … it’s a wonderful program.”
For more information, call 317-294-3087 or email [email protected].
