Strawberries, Maker Faire, Juneteenth celebrations on the Square
The downtown Noblesville Square will be abuzz with three separate but coordinated events from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.
Encompassing the whole square is the Nickel Plate Arts Maker Faire, which showcases talented local artisans and makers. Also sharing the square is St. Michael’s Strawberry Festival, serving up strawberry shortcakes until supplies last. Finally, there will also be a Juneteenth celebration in the northeast corner with educational activities, music, and entertainment.
Selling Like Hotcakes
The St. Michael Strawberry Festival is a highly anticipated event which features homemade shortcake baked by members of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and of course, fresh strawberries. These shortcakes sell out every year, so come early to get this sweet summer treat. They’re only available while supplies last.
“We are aware some fans of our strawberry shortcake might not want to be in a crowded area, so we’re also offering a drive through and pick up option off 8th Street,” said Gail Geisler, Strawberry Festival Chairperson.
This is St. Michael’s Episcopal Church’s largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds are donated to Family Promise of Hamilton County.
Maker Faire Affair
After a long hiatus of in-person art fairs, Nickel Plate Arts is bringing back Maker Faire to the public on Noblesville Square. Over 30 makers and artisans will be displaying and selling their handcrafted goods, with a special emphasis on first-time exhibitors. Arts demonstrations will be hosted throughout the day.
“The last time we organized our Maker Faire, we had a record number of artists and artisans sign up for the event, but the event was rained out. And, of course, in 2020, we had to cancel due to COVID-19, so we are really looking forward to bringing this event back,” said Ailithir McGill, Executive Director. “It’s rare to find an art show which specifically reaches out to new and emerging artists and makers, but Nickel Plate Arts is a home for many budding artists who are cultivating their talent.”
The outdoor exhibits will include a variety of handmade goods, including wood items, children’s books, pottery, quilts, clothing, bath and body items, jewelry, home decor, and even some unique items that defy description. The scaled-back, casual event allows guests and artists to connect, while safely bringing in-person events back to the public and the Noblesville Square.
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth, or June 19, the celebration of the Emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, will take place throughout the day as well. Based in the northeast corner of the Square, the Juneteenth section includes a series of activities, entertainment, and education for all ages.
“We are honored that The Noblesville Diversity Coalition, Be the Change Indy and Serve Noblesville will join us with activities for all ages,” McGill said. “The Gal’s Guide Library will be holding a Juneteenth Read-in on our campus, and we’re hosting a Juneteenth flag activity on the Square. We are also excited to host music and drumming from Indy Music and Wellness, so it will be a full, celebratory event.”
All three events will run concurrently from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, rain or shine. (St. Michael’s Strawberry Festival runs while supplies last.) You can get sneak peeks of merchandise, programming, and weather contingencies by following #stmichaelsstrawberryfest, #makerfaire, #nickelplatearts, #juneteenthcelebration and #juneteenthreadin on social media.
For more information, go to nickelplatearts.org/makerfaire.