A vendor pours beer during the 2019 WAMMfest. The annual festival, scheduled for Saturday, celebrates wine, art, music and microbrews, all while raising money for community charities and causes. DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
When you have a good thing going, it doesn’t make sense to change a successful formula.
And the Sertoma Club of Greenwood has a winner.
The philanthropic organization has been the engine behind the annual WAMMfest, bringing the local community together in a celebration of wine, art, music and microbrews. More importantly, the club has done so in support of dozens of local agencies and initiatives, from Greenwood’s fire and police departments to helping create Greenwood’s City Center Park project.
“To provide the community an enjoyable fun-fest is really cool. And then, to be able to take the proceeds and benefit so many organizations in the community is really satisfying,” said Liz Hall, president of the Sertoma Club. “People ask me about what I want to do this year, and my answer is: more. More people, more publicity, more benefited organizations, more money, more everything.”
Since it was founded 15 years ago, WAMMfest has helped generate more than $1 million in donations to community organizations and efforts. People have responded to the day-long festival featuring the best in regional bands, wineries and breweries from all over Indiana, and fine painting, sculpture, multi-media and more artwork from 50 professional artists.
This year will be more of the same.
“We know the formula works,” Hall said. “It’s such a special event.”
WAMMfest was created in 2009 by the Sertoma Club to raise money for community causes. The idea was to put together a showcase in Greenwood that would appeal to a wide variety of people, therefore generating more money for good causes.
They focused on four main cultural areas —wine, art, music and microbrews.
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.
Through ticket sales, the Sertoma Club has been able to donate more than $1 million to local causes. In the past, the club was able to support efforts ranging from Girls Inc. of Johnson County to the White River Township Fire Department’s Christmas Angels program. The group has contributed to smaller groups as well, such as Quilts of Valor, which provides quilts for veterans, and Book Pillows of Hope, focused on distributing pillows, equipped with a pocket to stow a book, to kids who have been in traumatic situations.
“It’s such a good feeling to be able to help an organization that does such amazing work,” Hall said.
In order to keep making donations, the Sertoma Club needs to continue staging an event that people are clamoring to attend. That starts with a musical lineup of some of the most popular bands around.
Performers will take turns gracing WAMMfest’s two stages, rotating back and forth to ensure there’s never a lull in the music. Local favorites Exit 99, Toy Factory, Hairbangers Ball, Tightrope Band and the Jai Baker 3 are slated to bring blistering sets of rock, country, R&B and more to the festival.
Everything leads up to the headlining act, Boy Band Review — a tribute to N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and all the other boy bands that dominated the late ‘90s.
For the adults in the crowd, 13 breweries and wineries will be serving up their best ales, stouts, chardonnays and traminettes. Participating wineries include Mallow Run Winery, Ash and Elm Cider Co., Holtkamp Winery, Carousel Winery and Cedar Creek Winery.
Brews will be available from Taxman Brewing, Oaken Barrel Brewing, Planetary Brewing, MashCraft Brewing, Cedar Creek Brewing, Guggman Haus Brewing, Garfield Brewing and Quaff On! Brewing.
In between appreciating the artistry of local musicians and area craft brewers and winemakers, WAMMfest attendees can wander through what has become known as “Artist Alley” — one of the festival’s most endearing attractions.
“My favorite part is the art fair,” Hall said. “We have a committed that evaluates people who apply to be part of the art fair, so it’s people who are serious artists. I think we get the cream of the crop in the art arena, and it gives something different to the event.”
The event’s popularity ensured organizers didn’t need to brainstorm many new additions. One they did include, though, was another fundraising effort: a 50/50 raffle.
“It will benefit the people who play, whoever the winner is, and will benefit the community, because we’re going to use those proceeds to do what we do with all the rest of the money,” Hall said.
IF YOU GO
WAMMfest
What: An annual festival celebrating local wine, art, music and microbrews, organized by the Sertoma Club of Greenwood, with all the net proceeds distributed back to support youth, individual and community organizations.
When: Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Craig Park, 10 E. Smith Valley Road, Greenwood
Wineries: Mallow Run Winery, Ash and Elm Cider Co., Holtkamp Winery, Carousel Winery and Cedar Creek Winery
Microbreweries: Taxman Brewing, Oaken Barrel Brewing, Planetary Brewing, MashCraft Brewing, Cedar Creek Brewing, Guggman Haus Brewing, Garfield Brewing and Quaff On! Brewing.
Art: A variety of artists from all genres will be set up in an area known as “Artist’s Alley”
Music:
Noon-1 p.m.: Exit 99
1-2:30 p.m.: Toy Factory
2:30-4 p.m.: Tightrope Band
4-5:30 p.m.: Hairbanger Ball
5:30-7 p.m.: Jai Baker 3
7 to 9 p.m.: Boy Band Review
Food vendors: Ardy’s Concession, Bay Area Bistro, Ben’s Pretzels, Cakes by Chew, Chuy’s TexMex, Dang Quesadilla, Kona Ice, Lonely Monkey Food Truck, Marco’s Pizza, Mobowl, My Super Taqueria, Pap’s Kettle Pop, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Greenwood, The Suds Drive-In and Whiskey River BBQ
General admission tickets is $20 in advance, $25 day-of (online and at gates.) Children 12 and under are free. VIP experience tickets are $75, and include premium parking, access to a tent that includes bottled water and snacks, alcohol and food vouncher, access to VIP restrooms and an exclusive viewing area by the main stage. Tickets may be purchased online or at the gate. For more information visit WAMMfest.com.
