New Earth Festival coming Saturday and Sunday . . .
The population of Atlanta is approximately 750, but this weekend this little northern Hamilton County town will see 70,000 to 100,000 visitors at the 46th annual Atlanta New Earth Festival.
Farley
The Reporter had the opportunity to speak with event organizers Jennifer Farley and Catharine Heller about what visitors can expect at the longest running and largest festival in Hamilton County.
Nickel Plate Express will offer 30-minute rides for $10 per person, kids 4 and under ride for free at the festival. Rides will leave at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
There will be over 600 vendors lining Atlanta’s streets. “The town has three different areas it rents: Main Street, Dolles Park and Broadway Street, but homeowners also get involved,” Farley told The Reporter. “So around 600 vendors is the estimate throughout the whole town.”
It should be noted that official participation in the New Earth festival will involve all vendors and events taking place up to the south side of County Line Road.
“For the last 20 years we have seen at least this many vendors, but over the last several years the types of vendors has been slowly changing,” Farley said.
According to Farley, Main Street will be reserved for vendors offering handmade items.
“On Broadway Street you will find antiques, collectibles, crafters, pet items, candles, and while there will be handmade things there, not everything is focused specifically on that,” Farley said.
There will also be a farmer’s market on Broadway.
“A big thing the last few couple has been the woman’s boutique clothing,” Farley said. “We have several vendors selling those items. Then the vintage and repurposed items are also very big right now.”
Returning Vendors have consistently told Farley this is the event that puts them in the black for the year. The festival also helps the Town of Atlanta in many ways.
“It is a kickoff to Christmas shopping for many people,” Farley said. “But it helps us too. Our general fund budget is not that large, so this festival helps us fund things that we otherwise could not do.”
Trimming trees, the purchase and removal of abandoned properties, special projects, maintenance of Dolles Park and other local projects are paid for with funds from the festival.
If all that seems a little overwhelming, have no fear, the Boy Scouts are always prepared to help. There will be an information booth on Main Street manned by local Boy Scouts to help you find your way around. You can find fliers, maps, programs, T-shirts and more at the booth.
Farley wanted to emphasize the importance of the sponsors and volunteers who make this festival happen every year.
Some of the main sponsors include: Commissioners Mark Heirbrandt and Christine Altman, Hamilton County Tourism, Roudebush Equipment, Endeavor Communications, Taft Law, Nickel Plate Express, and Mr. Muffins Trains and the Choo Choo Café.
A big draw for Hamilton County visitors is the live entertainment. “The entertainment sponsorship started at our 40th anniversary,” Farley said. “We decided we wanted to do something new and we wanted to do it right. In order to fund that we started a sponsorship program. This year’s free entertainment is made possible by the sponsorship of Commissioner Mark Heirbrant. Commissioner Heirbrant was one of the first Sponsors of the festival and we appreciate his continued support.”
Once again, the festival is also partnering with Good Samaritan Network on a festival food drive.
Farley told The Reporter the Good Samaritan Network (GSN) is a project begun by Nancy Chance to unite several charitable organizations in one place. All the resources that are available for charitable and outreach projects are reachable in one location. Thus, the network can connect people with the right organization for their individual needs.
According to gsnlive.org, GSN is a collaborative/network of nonprofits in Hamilton County. GSN utilizes two serving approaches, direct and indirect services, and in part is designed to ensure efficiency and communication among the different agencies, social services, nonprofits, local government, pantries and businesses – as together they serve the needs of Hamilton County residents who are at-risk or underserved.
When asked about the name and history of the festival, Farley told The Reporter, “The festival started on Main Street in 1974. One of the business that helped start it was called ‘A Touch of Earth.’ Everything at the first festival was handmade. Originally it was the first week in October, but in time it was moved the fourth weekend in September.”
It takes several people to help put the festival on – from putting 600 trash boxes together, to setting up water and electrical services for the food vendors, placing barricades and sponsor signage, setting vendors and having emergency services available. These are just to name a few things that take place before the festival begins.
Farley would like to especially thank Ryan Horine and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and Atlanta Utility Superintendent Andy Emmert for all they do to help make the Atlanta New Earth Festival a success.
This weekend, the 46th annual Atlanta New Earth Festival has plenty to offer. Visit atlantaindiana.com for more information.