Juliette Nehring is one of a committee of co-coordinators of the 21st annual Rocky Ripple Festival scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located in Hohlt Park on six acres at 840 West 53rd Street, it features a variety of local arts and entertainment. Limited free street parking is available and secure bicycle parking will be provided by Pedal and Park.

"About 80 artists will appear this year and will display and sell quite a variety of different material. Some long-time artists have participated for the entire 21-year history of the festival," Ms. Nehring explained. Seven different musical groups are scheduled. "A youth band, The Problem Children, is an alternative rock band, composed of students who attend White Pine Wilderness Academy, which is located across the street from Rocky Ripple. Their front man, Jack Ziesemer, is a 12-year-old student that organized the band with some of his friends. His parents, Greg Ziesemer and Kriss Luckett, are an acoustic duo. who will also appear this year. Other musical acts include Some Indy Ukers (a ukulele band), Rock E Bassoon (an electric bassoon ensemble), True North (a folk-rock group), Billy Pilgrim and the Earthlings (a jazz trio that plays modern jazz versions of songs) and a local drumming group that will move from playing in the children's circle to appearing on stage as a multi-piece band with dancers," she added.

The long-time Rocky Ripple resident mentioned her connection to the festival. "I have lived in Rocky Ripple on two different occasions. The first time I raised my older children here and sometimes participated at the festival as a musician. I have always loved the festival and have attended nearly all of them. This year, we decided to divide up the responsibilities among three to four people as co-coordinators. In 2020, we elected to cancel the festival, which was a difficult decision, but it was made in the best interest of the community. At this year's event, we are following Marion County guidelines in maintaining social distancing and encouraging people to wear masks," she said.

The food vendors include Punch Burger, Moo Lou frozen treats, which is a mother daughter-owned business that started after Maddie, another daughter, had passed away. Prufrock Coffee Company joins as a new vendor and Broad Ripple Brewpub will serve beer and wine. Other vendors include Lick Ice Cream and new food vendor Toro Tex-Mex. More food vendors will be announced.

Rocky Ripple may have more artists and musicians per capita than most local Indianapolis neighborhoods. One musician, Allen Straytner, is a virtuoso harmonica player who has performed with blues legends B.B. King and Yank Rachell.

More information is available at: www.rockyripple.org/festival.html and at their Facebook book page: www.facebook.com/RockyRippleCommunityAssociation.

According to historical information provided by the Rocky Ripple Community Association, they have been in existence since November 12, 1948, when the first organizational meeting was held at the home of Ms. William Smith. It was voted on to call the group the Ladies Auxiliary of the Rocky Ripple Volunteer Fire Department, whose purpose was to assist their volunteer fire department morally and financially. Their first order of business was to raise enough money through a bake sale to buy a hose for the fire department.

By July of 1950, a town hall was built by local residents with money and support from the Ladies Auxiliary. Over the next four decades, they raised money to fund the volunteer fire department as well as provide social events for their residents. By the end of 1989 with the dissolution of the Volunteer Fire Department, the Ladies Auxiliary later adopted new bylaws on February 6, 1990, and renamed the organization the Rocky Ripple Community Association.

In March of 1998, RRCA incorporated for the purpose of becoming a not for profit organization in order to apply for grants, increase revenues and be able to provide additional support to the community. As indicated by their mission statement, the RRCA provide social, cultural, recreational and educational services to the Town of Rocky Ripple and its residents and in doing so, strengthens the bonds of civic unity and provides for the common welfare of all its residents.

The RRCA continues to host the festival with all proceeds used to support the parks in the town of Rocky Ripple, known as a "community within the city" of Indianapolis.