Charm Days set for Oct. 7-8
The annual Charm Days event kicks off with a rousing woolly worm race featuring local children and merchants.
The quaint village of Charm has plenty of beauty and draws people to visit from near and far, but Oct. 7-8, the village will be teeming with extra charisma with the annual Charm Days, all for a great purpose.
While the games, events and shops are the focus, the real meaning behind the weekend is raising funds for the Charm Share and Care Fund, which aids local families facing financial burdens, including a trio of families in line to benefit this year.
The proceeds from the lunch stand will go to benefit Nelson and Ada Miller, with Ada dealing with medical issues that have created growing medical expenses, while the Saturday bake sale funds will go to Mabel V. Miller. The Mervin J. Yoder family will receive funds to help with his medical treatments from the Friday bake sale.
According to Ivan J. Miller, who has been involved with this event for years, the annual auction serves as the major fundraiser for the Share and Care Fund, which over the years has supported families with mounting medical bills; widows; families who have lost homes to fire; and many others in need.
“Wherever we see or hear of a need, that is where we want to make an impact,” Miller said. “We keep our eyes and ears open to the community and hear about the many needs and help meet them. Sometimes people refer families facing hardships to us. In a close-knit community like ours, these stories of trials and the needs families are facing tend to get back to us, and helping those families is exactly why we created the Share and Care Fund long ago.”
Charm Days begin Friday with the popular Wooly Worm Derby at 12:15 p.m. Youngsters find a wooly worm, name it, and practice encouraging it to crawl up a string. The big race day event sees the kids blowing, clapping, and encouraging their wooly worm to be the first to crawl up to the finish line. When they are done competing, the kids turn their wooly worms over to the local area business leaders, who follow suit with their own derby.
Clear Spring School will host a lunch stand, with all proceeds going to the school. Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare will host a raffle, with tickets available at all participating Charm businesses, as well as in the basement of the Charm Wellness Center, with the drawing Saturday at 1 p.m.
The volleyball tournament starts Friday at 6:30 p.m., with winning proceeds being donated to the winners’ choice of charities, along with a pie baking contest and benefit bake sales. Spectattors are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Also on Friday will be Music Under the Tent, which begins at 6 p.m. and features the live music of Broadway, Dan & Amanda Esh, and Small Town.
Saturday kicks off early with the flea market opening at 7 a.m. At 8, the newly created Equine Funtasia event —fun and education with horses as well as a pony parade — starts.
The Charm Field & Trail Challenge Run is at at 8:30 a.m. with a 3-mile field and trail challenge followed by the start of the kids’ fun run at 9:30.
At 11 a.m., the big draw begins when the annual auction under the big tent taking center stage. This year’s benefit auction includes many awesome items, including a queen-size Linking Heart quilt made by the ladies of Charm; a burl walnut Keim wall clock; a two-night stay at Mrs. Miller’s Cabin on Jan. 5-7, 2023; and much more. An auction highlight is the Traveling Blessing Quilt. The buyer of this quilt is to donate it to the next benefit auction — it’s been sold at three benefit auctions already this summer.
All proceeds from the benefit auction will go into the coffers of the Charm Share and Care Fund.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday comes the most highly anticipated moment when the Charm Merchants hold a drawing for $1,000.