The 10th annual Rocky Ripple Festival is Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., located in Hohlt Park at the corner of 53rd and Crown Street. Celebrating a day of local art, food and music, admission is free with activities for all family members. A map with directions is at: www.rockyripple.org/uploads/RR_Festival_Map.pdf

The 2009 festival musical line-up includes: The Born Again Floozies, Day Job Blues, Hy Rider, Mysteries Bloom and Work Release. Over 40 artists will display and sell oil, acrylic and water color paintings, sketches, sculpture and pottery, poetry, custom jewelry, hand made soaps and scents, apparel, candles, wood working and collector magnets. A band schedule and list of participating artists can be found at the Rocky Ripple Festival website links: www.rockyripple.org/RRFest_Music.html and www.rockyripple.org/Art_on_Display.html, respectively.

"Chris Wright, a resident potter, will provide onsite instruction for 'kids of all ages' in the 'Throw a Pot Area.' The children's area will also offer games, entertainment and a bounce tent. The brewer's art will be represented by the Broad Ripple Brewing Company, which will be selling beer and wine. The Rocky Ripple Community Association (RRCA) and Veterans Association will provide a variety of grilled offerings and fresh corn on the cob for extremely reasonable prices. Our ongoing goal is to provide a fun festival atmosphere for families and folks of all ages within and outside our little community while raising money to support the future of our parks," explained event coordinator and RRCA treasurer Mandy Redmond. She has been involved with the festival since its beginning in 1998.

A festival raffle will be sponsored by RRCA. Top prizes include a one-year Riviera Club family membership, Paw Patch Place veterinary clinic full check-up gift certificates for dogs and cats, tickets to area museums, local restaurants gift certificates and more.

"In addition to the growth of the festival itself, the money raised has increased from year to year. This is now the major annual fundraising mechanism for the Rocky Ripple Parks Endowment fund, which was established to provide funds to maintain the parks in Rocky Ripple," Redmond added.

According to their website, (www.rockyripple.org), Rocky Ripple was incorporated in 1927 and was originally comprised mainly of fishing cottages. Numerous houses overlook either White River or the Indianapolis Water Company Canal. Wildlife, such as beaver, eagles, heron, osprey and wood ducks can be seen in the area. Its tranquil, rural setting exudes memories of a small town in the country.

Describing the festival's history, Redmond said, "It began in 1998 when the town officially obtained the land now known as Hohlt Park. The Community Association decided that a celebration should be held. Since many musicians were Rocky Ripple residents, it was agreed that it should be a day of music utilizing local talent."

"The next year (1999) brought about a dedication ceremony for Hohlt Park, so there was no festival, but the community association and neighborhood members expanded the annual celebration to include music and art," she mentioned.

"The first festival featuring music and a handful of local artists displaying their wares occurred in 2000. A small food booth manned by community association volunteers was added later. Each year the number of participating artists has increased and the reputation of the festival has grown. The name of the festival was changed from Arts in the Park to Rocky Ripple Festival," Redmond noted.

The Rocky Ripple Festival continues a community tradition celebrating local Indy art, food and music with a small town aura of "the country in the city."