Greenwood fest celebrates wine, art, music, microbrews

Beer is poured during the 2019 WAMMfest at Craig Park in Greenwood. The After having to cancel the event last year, this celebration of wine, art, music and microbrews is back and bigger than ever on 2021. File photo.

Seemingly everywhere you turn at the annual WAMMfest celebration, there’s a feast for the senses to discover.

During what has become one of Greenwood’s most celebrated summertime traditions, people can get carried away in the joyous thrall of rock, roots and R&B music spanning a full afternoon. They can savor the refreshing taste of pinot grigio or an India pale ale made right in central Indiana, and delight their taste buds with a dozen food options ranging from barbecue to pizza to frozen treats.

And to cleanse their cultural palate, guests can take in the sublime beauty of thousands of work of art.

Once again, Greenwood will come together in a celebration of wine, art, music and microbrews on Saturday. WAMMfest, one of the county’s largest events, is back on, stronger than ever after the event had to be canceled in 2020.

The day-long festival isn’t just a chance for the community to dance, sip and eat in celebration. As the only fundraiser for the Sertoma Club of Greenwood, the event helps support everything from scholarships for local students to area parks to the city’s first splash pad.

Through ticket sales, the Sertoma Club has been able to donate more than $890,000 to local causes.

“That’s the money we can use to give back. Every cent of the proceeds from WAMMfest goes back into the community,” said Josh O’Neal, marketing chair for the Sertoma Club of Greenwood. “That’s why WAMMfest exists, to give away this money.”

WAMMfest has been part of Greenwood’s summer calendar since it kicked off in 2009. Modeled on popular Indianapolis events such as the Broad Ripple Art Fair and the Penrod Arts Fair, the festival was an immediate success. More than 4,500 people attended the inaugural WAMMfest, and attendance has grown steadily over the past decade.

In 2019, the club was able to support efforts ranging from Greenwood parks, police and fire departments to Girls Inc. of Johnson County to the White River Township Fire Department’s Christmas Angels program.

The event was created by the Sertoma Club, with the idea was to put together a cultural showcase in Greenwood that would appeal to a wide variety of people, therefore generating more money for the good causes it supports. To do that, they build the event on four main pillars: wine, art, music and microbrews.

The musical lineup at WAMMfest is always impressive, bringing together some of the best bands in the region in a nearly nonstop block of music. Local favorites That ‘90s Band, Toy Factory, the Woomblies Rock Orchestra, Bigg Country and Hairbanger’s Ball will bring tastes of alternative, glam, R&B, classic rock and country in back-to-back performances.

But as headliner, organizers have lined up one of the more talented and eclectic acts in the whole country. The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band is a high-octane roots band whose forceful live shows are known as stompin’ good times. Rev. Peyton, the band’s vocalist and guitar player, is world-renowned for hit finger-picking style. Breezy Peyton, his wife and the band’s washboard player, as well as drummer Max Senteney lay the gritty foundation for the whole band’s sound.

“We as a club decided that we need to try to stand out, try to give WAMMfest to stand out more than all of the other events,” O’Neal said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do from here on out, have a headliner like that.”

To refresh after dancing the day away, organizers have put together an impressive slate of beer and wine from some of the area’s best craft producers.

Bargersville’s own Mallow Run Winery will be pouring glasses of its most popular wines, as will Cedar Creek Winery out of Martinsville, Daniel’s Vineyard from the Geist area and Holtkamp Winery out of Sunman.

For the beer lover, Johnson County breweries are well-represented in MashCraft Brewing, Oaken Barrel Brewing, Planetary Brewing and Taxman Brewing. Rounding out the lineup are Centerpoint Brewing, Cedar Creek and Four Day Ray Brewing.

“Everyone loves wine and music, everyone loves the wineries and breweries, and the art as well,” O’Neal said.

Throughout WAMMfest, the energy level is high — dancing, music, friends toasting each other, groups feasting on a variety of foods. But Artist’s Alley may be the most enticing area of the entire festival.

More than 60 booths are arranged among the grounds, featuring artists from Johnson County, central Indiana and throughout the U.S.

Each artist offers something different. Acrylic paintings may be lined up next to a metalworker who creates whimsical sculpture. People can shop for artisan jewelry, glasswork, photography, pottery and sculpture. Find an enticing oil painting, watercolor work and piece of woodworking.

Organizers hope the day is a chance to celebrate as a community, after having to skip the event last year, O’Neal said. And while the festival is a chance for everyone to have fun together, Sertoma Club of Greenwood members want to emphasize their mission in hosting WAMMfest.

So, just before the Rev. Peyton takes the stage, they’ll be distributing oversized checks to the organizations receiving funding from the club.

“It’s really just driving home the fact that WAMMfest is a charity event, and that the proceeds from tickets sales goes back to the community,” O’Neal said.