Inaugural “Cheers For Hope” craft fair in Arcadia to benefit Hamilton County families

On Saturday, Sept. 21, dozens of artisans will take over Main Street in Downtown Arcadia for the inaugural Cheers For Hope Fall Festival and Craft Fair, set for noon to 4 p.m.

The event is being organized by Secret Families of Hamilton County in partnership with Northbrook Brewing Company as a fundraiser to help families across the community in need this holiday season.

The festival, which will be held along West Street and in front of Northbrook on Main Street in downtown Arcadia, will feature over 70 craft vendors showcasing items such as handmade leather goods, clothing, jewelry, woodcrafts and artwork. Northbrook will be serving food and drinks at the event and there will be live music from the Aura Ray & Sean Noel Singing Duo. There will also be facepainting and other activities for children. Street parking will be available.

“We have been wanting to launch a signature fundraising event for a couple of years, but hadn’t found the right place,” according to Leachia Kern, co-executive director of Secret Families. “Northbrook saw one of our social media posts and invited us up to talk. We were so impressed with the space and their willingness to partner with us – we knew it was the right place to launch our event.”

For more information, visit secretfamilieshc.org.

About Secret Families of Hamilton County
Over 14,000 people fall below the poverty line in Hamilton County. This is larger than the entire populations of 11 Indiana counties. Since 2014, Secret Families of Hamilton County has worked with local elementary schools and Hamilton County Youth Assistance to identify and support these families in need. This may be due to the illness or death of a parent, loss of a job, natural disaster, or any other number of circumstances.

On the second Saturday of December, months of planning and fundraising culminate in a highly orchestrated, single-day event with hundreds of Hamilton County volunteers shopping, wrapping and delivering presents to their neighbors in need, along with a fully decorated tree, a Bible, toiletries/personal care items and a gift card for Christmas dinner. In 2023, Secret Families served over 60 families and almost 300 individuals, and the goal is to serve 100 families and 500 individuals in 2024.

Secret Families spends approximately $550 on each family supported by the organization, which would not be possible without generous donations from the community. Learn how to get involved at secretfamilieshc.org.