A Foam Happy foam party, like this one at a summer library event in Morristown, will be part of a Sept. 23 fall festival at The Fountain. The company’s device generates foam up to 5 feet deep. Foam time will be split by age groups. “The adults and the kids are super looking forward to it,” said festival organizer Deb Kraft.
FOUNTAINTOWN — A foam party, a fish fry and other attractions are part of an upcoming festival in Fountaintown.
Organizers say they’re hoping the communities around The Fountain — a church on U.S. 52, nestled between New Palestine and Morristown west-east, and Greenfield and Shelbyville north-south — will come and enjoy a fall afternoon of food and festivitites.
The Fountain plans a Fall Festival for 4-7 p.m. Sept. 23 on the grounds of the church, 797 W. Brookville Road, Fountaintown.
“It’s all free, and we are inviting the community, family, friends — anyone who’d like to have a fun afternoon,” said organizer Deb Kraft. “People have so many worries today. … We’re inviting them to leave their worries at home for a minute and just come and play and have fun with family and friends.”
Some facets of the fun will be active, such as a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, yard games including bumper ball soccer, and an inflatable bounce house/obstacle course.
“This is such a great opportunity to bring families together,” said Seth Eagleson, family minister at The Fountain. “They can just relax and watch their kids run around and have a good time.”
Other facets will be food-oriented, such as food from Dan’s Fish Fry Service or free ice cream. Kindness Delivered — “a mobile ministry that delivers and fosters random acts of kindness,” according to the nonprofit’s website — is underwriting the fish meals so they’ll be free to festivalgoers.
Still other parts of the day are meant to appeal to a wide range of age groups and interests.
“As we determined what activities we wanted, we kept testing it back against different age groups,” said Denise Dank, who like Kraft, her sister, is active in both the church and Kindness Delivered. “If you can offer something for the adults, too, all the better.”
With that in mind, bingo will take place under the festival tent, and a book swap table is planned.
Speaking of books, the Morristown library will partner at the event with the opportunity to sign up for library cards and with a children’s song time with motions. Festival organizers encourage people to buy books for the library, the Velma Wortman Morristown Branch of Shelby County Public Library, from the library’s Amazon wishlist. (See the list at yourfountain.org/library.)
Changing Footprints will also partner at the event. The church has been collecting shoes, and “on that day we hope to present them with dozens and dozens and dozens of shoes,” Kraft said.
Though community partners hope to get a boost at the festival, organizers say the main aim is to offer the community an enjoyable event and show them God’s love.
“Our purpose in doing it is to reach out to the community,” Dank said. “We are hoping it draws people from outside the church to come visit and have a day of fun.”
Eagleson has a similar perspective on the event.
“I hope, ultimately, it just shows we’re a church that cares about our community,” he said.
FALL FESTIVAL
When: 4-7 p.m. Sept. 23
Where: The Fountain, 797 W. Brookville Road (U.S. 52), Fountaintown
Cost: Free
Featuring: meals from Dan’s Fish Fry Service (tenderloins, chicken strips, sides, rolls), bingo with prizes, Dessert Dash, book swap, Foam Happy, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, bounce house/obstacle course inflatable, air brush artist, ice cream, yard games and raffle prizes
Ways to help community partners who’ll be at the festival: donate new or gently used shoes for Changing Footprints; order books for the Morristown library from its Amazon wishlist, viewable at yourfountain.org/library
