(Posted Aug. 30, 2018)
The Shekinah Festival & Benefit Auction–“The Biggest Little Festival in Ohio”–is here again.
The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for Shekinah Christian School, an evangelical Christian school in Plain City serving students in grades K-12. More than 30 churches and numerous denominations are represented among the students and staff.
This year, the festival begins at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 with Troyer pulled pork barbecue and homemade ice cream. Hot air balloons lift off, weather permitting, for a unique aerial display at 5:45 p.m. For balloon ride information, call (614) 504-3068. “One More Soul,” a southern gospel group from Hilliard, takes the stage at 7 p.m., and a silent auction continues through the evening.
The main event begins the next morning, Sept. 8, with an additional hot air balloon lift off at 7:15 a.m., weather permitting. Breakfast options are available starting at 7 a.m. with sausage egg and cheese sandwiches, Der Dutchmen doughnuts, and coffee. Children’s crafts and homemade baked goods, including peanut butter, fry pies and apple dumplings, go on sale at 8:30 a.m., followed at 10 a.m. by trail bologna, pizza, taco salad, chicken barbecue and more.
Throughout the day, children are invited to have fun with the pedal pull, bounce house, zip line, petting zoo, and other activities, including new carnival rides.
This year, the auction features vacations in South Carolina, Texas, and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Africa. In addition, handmade quilts, in-home meals, furniture and collectables go on the auction block between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The festival’s Facebook page features photos of many of the auction items.
The Shekinah Festival & Benefit Auction attracts more than 2,500 attendees and is always the second weekend in September. Admission is free. The event takes place on the Shekinah school grounds at 10040 Lafayette-Plain City Road, three miles southwest of Plain City. For more information, find the event’s Facebook page or call (614) 504-3066.
