GREENFIELD — Part rummage sale, part variety show — whatever it was, it was a success.
KidsPlay Inc. children’s theater conducted its first Arts and Rummage event recently at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. The event, a garage sale that also featured local entertainment, raised about $1,500 for the nonprofit performing arts organization, said organizer Chris Vetters.
“We’re just thrilled,” she said. “That’s more than we hoped for. Since it hasn’t been done in a few years, we really didn’t know what to expect.”
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About 400 people attended, and there were 41 booths set up by area residents with items to sell at the event, she said.
A yearly rummage sale had been organized in the past by the Daily Reporter, but KidsPlay organizers added a twist — they got a handful of local dancers and musicians to perform throughout the day, Vetters said.
Jamie McDowell, the 2015 winner of Greenfield Idol, another event put on by KidsPlay, performed with her friend, Payton Cole.
McDowell, who has also helped out with a couple of KidsPlay’s musicals, plays and workshops, enjoyed watching other performers at the event. She plans to take part in the event when it is conducted again, she said.
“The Dazzlers,” a quartet featuring Grace Eckelbarger, Hayden Hubbard, Jennifer Mlott and Kailee Isham, also performed. Dancers from the Dance East Ballet Company and the Hearts Ablaze Cloggers also made appearances, Vetters said.
Dana Hart, director of the Dance East Ballet Company, said in addition to performing at the event, her group had a vendor table at which they sold handmade knitted items, baked goods and dog treats. They also sold dress-up clothes.
Hart loved the event.
“It was awesome to see so many arts groups come together for KidsPlay and to provide that for the community,” she said.
At the end of the event, KidsPlay organizers and several of the rummage table vendors took their extra items that weren’t sold to the Hancock County Hope House, Vetters said. The organization stayed open late in order to allow the participants to bring their extras by.
Carl Denny, director of the Hancock County Hope House, said KidsPlay was awesome, for thinking of the Hope House.
