The 11th annual Rocky Ripple Festival is Saturday, September 25, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Located at 840 West 53rd Street, the event features art, food, music, handcrafted beer and family fun activities. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Festival Coordinator Dhyana Raynor said, "This year we're adding extra focus on bikes, kids and dogs, as well as the usual live music, over fifty artist booths and community-prepared festival food. We're encouraging folks to ride their bikes to our free festival and are providing an area at the entrance of the park specifically to accommodate bicycles. Pedal & Park is donating 40 feet of bike racks and Free Wheelin' Community Bikes will be there to accept used bicycles. One of their mechanics will offer light, fall bike tune-ups. IndyCog, an Indianapolis cyclist organization that actively promotes and celebrates all things cycling, will be there," she added. Ms. Raynor has been involved with the event for many years.

"I've been the artist coordinator for the festival since 2004. This year, Mandy Redmond needed a break from overseeing the festival, so with the assurance that there would be plenty of assistance, I agreed to be the festival coordinator. Megan Wright has taken over the artists' area and Karen Stone has for many years provided the festival food," Ms. Raynor explained.

Musical entertainment includes six bands, four of them with Rocky Ripple musicians. Parental Advisory begins at 11:00am, followed by Homesick Angels at 11:45, UpSpin at 1:00pm, Whoa!Tiger at 2:20pm and HyRyder at 3:40pm. Red Light Driver brings the festival to a close, playing from 5:00 to 6:00pm. More information is available at www.rockyripple.org

"The Rocky Ripple festival is family friendly and so it follows that dogs are welcome. Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue will be there again. Last year, they paraded their dogs around the festival, with the outcome that three dogs were adopted. Both ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistant Network) and the Sierra Foundation, an organization committed to raising the awareness of cancer in dogs and options that families have, are also scheduled. What's a festival without doggie treats? There are plans to have a doggie bakery there. While this committee is still in the planning stages, rumor has it that the Sierra Foundation is sponsoring a dog parade," she said.

With a playground, volleyball-sized "sandbox", bounce tent and supervised, interactive children's activities, the Rocky Ripple Festival is a big hit with the younger crowd.

In addition to artists and musicians, volunteers play a big role in the festival as well.

"The festival food is prepared and sold by the Rocky Ripple community volunteers. Kincaid hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches and Veggie black bean burgers are on the menu. The Rocky Ripple Veteran's Association will once again offer their popular grilled corn on the cob, traditionally picked fresh that morning. John Hill's Broad Ripple Brewpub will provide beer and wine," Ms. Raynor mentioned.

The Rocky Ripple Festival is a great way for families and friends to celebrate the end of summer with local art, food and music in one of Indianapolis' historic communities.