By Grace Xu
Without corporate sponsors and spark button sales, a volunteer-driven celebration like CarmelFest would not exist.
This year’s sponsors include Allied Solutions for the North Zone and Centier Bank as parade sponsor, both of which have previously sponsored the event. Evolve Youth/Player One ESports is a new sponsor for the Extreme KidsZone, bringing along a gaming vendor and playing host to a gaming tournament during CarmelFest as well.
“This is a new concept, but ultimately the idea is to engage a different demographic that the Extreme KidsZone maybe hasn’t attracted as much,” said Joshua Carr, CarmelFest development and sponsorship chair. “With gaming being something that has a large following worldwide, Evolve is a local company that started not too long ago on trying to focus on engaging the youth in the community.”
CarmelFest is organized each year by members of the Rotary Club of Carmel, with assistance from the City of Carmel. Indy Connect returns as the sponsor of CarmelFest Hast Talent on the Geico gazebo stage. And CarmelFest media partners include CBS4 TV, Current Publishing, Sergi Studios and Cumulus-owned radio stations WFMS, WJJK and WZPL.
Although corporate sponsors are key to the festival, according to CarmelFest Fireworks Chair Jeff Worrell, spark button sales are just as important.
“Individuals and families can buy a $5 spark button and take ownership in not only the success of CarmelFest, but also, as I like to tell them, they can point to the spectacular fireworks and tell their friends and family they helped pay for that burst in the sky,” Worrell said.
The corporate sponsor for the fireworks is Damage Solutions.
Worrell hopes spark buttons will become part of each family’s Fourth of July tradition. Spark buttons will be available for purchase at the Carmel Farmers Market, every Wednesday at the Summer Family Concert Series at the Carmel Gazebo and at CarmelFest on July 3 and 4.
