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Airport, PCCS partnership gets ‘Green Light’
When two local festivals return after a 2020 hiatus this coming weekend, they’ll be doing it in partnership.
In conjunction with Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days, the 2021 Putnam County Green Light Art Festival will also take place at the Putnam County Regional Airport on Saturday, Sept. 11.
The fourth-annual art festival, hosted by Putnam County Comprehensive Services, will take place during day one of Airport Appreciation, which runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Airport Appreciation Days will continue with its second day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12.
Both free community events will take place at the airport, 1595 Ballard Lane, Greencastle.
Officials from both PCCS and the airport see the partnership as an opportunity for growth.
“It allows us to be more visible,” PCCS Community Relations Manager Stacie Langdon said. “We are always looking for collaborations.”
“If things go well, we hope it continues and we can add more community partners,” Airport Appreciation Days co-chairman J.R. Scott said.
“We hope it grows,” added PCCS Executive Director Andrew Ranck.
For PCCS, seeking a partnership and a different location is a matter of practicality, with the PCCS offices on Tennessee Street nearly inaccessible due to road work on the south and east side of Greencastle’s Robe-Ann Park.
But officials hope it’s more than that, a way to introduce the art of our vendors from Putnam, Vigo, Johnson and Marion counties to a different crowd.
“We want to expand our horizons and maybe bring some people into Putnam County who don’t live in Putnam County,” Langdon said.
With good weather, there could be hundreds of new potential customers.
“On a good weekend, we give rides to 200 kids,” airport manager and Airport Appreciation Co-Chairman Doug Miller said.
That is the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1374 Young Eagles Rally, which provides free airplane rides to children aged 8-17. Pilots from Putnam County and elsewhere volunteer their time and aircraft for the rally, giving kids an early exposure to flight that’s quite different from being a passenger on a large commercial jet.
Parents or guardians must be present to take part in a Young Eagle ride.
“The big deal is the Young Eagles Rally,” Scott said.
For the arts festival, though it does feature 40 vendors, the centerpiece is its own art program, in which the developmentally disabled clients of PCCS have a chance to sell their art alongside other artists who choose to participate.
“Even though we’re just one of 40 vendors, it’s a way for our artists to be on equal footing with other artists,” Langdon said.
“It’s very exciting for our artists to have a big sales day,” Ranck said. “And we have more than 50 artists under our banner.”
Artists will be selling jewelry, pottery, original paintings, photographs, honey, candles, woodworking items and much more. The popular Nomad Yarn truck will also be on site.
The Green Light Art Festival is presented in partnership with the Putnam County Arts Council.
Opening ceremonies for Airport Appreciation Days will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday featuring the Covered Bridge Harmony group singing the National Anthem and local Boy Scout troops raising the flag.
Big Bounce Fun rentals will be providing inflatables and games throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday. WREB will be broadcasting live on Saturday from 8-10 a.m. StatFlight and Air Evac will have emergency helicopters on display. Gyrocopters will be on display from PRA Chapter 34.
Cliff Robinson will give paid bi-plane rides both days, will PDM Aviation will also have paid rides. Spanish Lady T-6 rides will be available on Sunday.
Lift Academy will also be present with an airplane display and information on the academy.
Food vendors at the event will feature Lions Club selling hamburgers and hot dogs, Blondy’s giant tenderloins and the Final Approach restaurant. DJ Figgy Hardwick will be entertaining with music and games both days.
Airport Appreciation vendors will include Greencastle Rotary Club, Putnam County Hospital, Christian Motorcycle Association, Abstract and Title, Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, Putnam County Sheriff, Greencastle Fire Department, Greencastle Police Department, Putnam County CERT, Putnam County EMS, Scentsy-Kim Duell, LulaRoe-Alicia Gregg and Indiana National Guard.
Organizers also extended thanks to event sponsors Duke Energy, Old National Bank, Wabash Capital, Garmong Construction, Shepherd Financial, Assured Partners, BF & S Engineering and Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Putnam County Chamber.
“It’s just exciting in the year of nothing to see how this came together,” Ranck said.
“And we have plenty of room here to space out,” Scott added. “We’ll have hand sanitizer and all the usual.”