Vibrant costumes and folktale music brightened an otherwise cloudy day on Saturday, September 27th, at the third annual Fall Faerie Festival held at Greene Township Park in Scotland.
Fostering an imaginative experience, founder Kristi Eckert believes that learning is important for children, and that they “cannot learn unless they are well fed.” New to the event, the “Ticketed Tea Party” aimed to allow children to leave with full bellies. Book donations made by local libraries enabled children to leave with a book to fill their minds. Proceeds from the event benefited the nonprofit, Shippensburg Produce and Outreach, which brings fresh, nutritious food to local families with financial need.
In addition to organizing the event, Eckert – as a former vendor herself – aims to maintain low vendor fees for artists to sell their crafts, and grow their businesses. This opportunity gave voice to people such as self-published author and illustrator Carson Walters who writes about things “that make you think after you close the book.” His “Floofy Blue Dragon Books” highlight the strong bonds between humans and animals, and help bring comfort to those coping with loss.
Another set of vendors in attendance, David and Albert Diaz, shared that the colorful gnome beanies that started their business have helped comfort many going through those in chemo treatments, as the beanies made people “feel like they have their hair again.” Realizing there was a need, Albert expanded the business by including handmade soy candles, jewelry, and 3D printed dragons, citing he wanted “something for everyone.”
Beyond vendors, the festival also included a “Passport Mushroom Hunt,” where attendees were encouraged to find 12 hidden mushrooms among vendor booths. Those finding all of the hidden mushrooms received a prize. Free crafts for kids and costume contests were also part of the fun! Several food trucks were also available.
Performing at the event was female singing duo “Sirens and Liars” who sang folktale songs such as “Toss A Coin To Your Witcher” from the hit TV series The Witcher.
At the heart of the event’s mission is Shippensburg Produce and Outreach (SPO), a primary food pantry that serves clients within the Shippensburg School District in both Cumberland and Franklin counties. Serving over 400 families every Tuesday, SPO partners with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to provide nutritious food such as fresh produce, eggs, meat, dairy, and non-perishables to registered families. Gearing up for their annual Thanksgiving distribution, they anticipate serving approximately 600 families this year.
Since its founding in 2008 when it began with just one truck picking up food from auctions, SPO now operates out of Katie’s Place in Shippensburg. Relying on state funding and grants, SPO just appointed their first full-time paid staff member, former Tri-County Community Action member, Jennifer Crossley. Recounting how this impacts their organization, volunteer Sherre Mentzer exclaimed how they needed “somebody that’s going to take us into the future with grants, funding, and partners” and to “tell our story.”
Through the Fall Faerie Festival, Shippensburg Produce and Outreach continues its mission to serve the community. Locals who wish to make a donation to SPO can drop off garden-fresh produce and canned goods at Katie’s Place in Shippensburg on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
