Ford’s Chapel UMC celebrates rebuilding with Zip & Flip Festival

The Ford’s Chapel Zip & Flip Festival will be held on Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CONTRIBUTED)

HARVEST – Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Church is organizing a festival to celebrate the grand opening of their new facility. The congregation has rebounded after major structural damage in the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.

The Ford’s Chapel Zip & Flip Festival will be held on Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crafts chairperson Emily Howard and event coordinator Kristin Todd are encouraging crafts people to apply.

“With summer winding down and everyone in town, it’s a perfect excuse to get out for some festival fun,” Howard said. “This event promises to be a fun and well-attended festival.”

Festival visitors can take a zipline ride. Children can play on inflatable amusements and try various games. Mouths will water at the barbecue cook-off and for the ‘cupcake wars.’

Organizers will mail letters about early setup time on Aug. 23. “Doors will open to vendors on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 a.m.,” Howard said. If vendors haven’t opened by 10 a.m., standby exhibitors will take the spaces.

Vendor do not pay an up-front fee. “Vendors simply agree to donate 20 percent of their sales for the day to the Ford’s Chapel Backpack Ministry,” Howard said. “Harvest has a large population of families, and August 24 is the first Saturday after school starts.”

For the Zip & Flip Festival, all items for sale must be hand-crafted with no mass-produced or imported goods. The crafts chairperson will confirm that wares conform to the event’s standards.

All booth sizes are 10 feet square. Indoor and outdoor spots are available. Vendors must provide their own tents, tables, chairs and other supplies.

With their applications, vendors should submit three digital images of merchandise that will be sold at the Zip & Flip Festival. If sent by postal mail, include photographs of sale items.

Ford’s Chapel UMC is located at 280 Ford’s Chapel Drive in Harvest.

Application deadline is Aug. 1 or until full available openings are filled. For applications, email to emily_howard821@hotmail.com or kristintodd3@gmail.com.