Amish Country’s charming experience Charm Days provide fun while helping others

  • October 4, 2009
  • 921
                        
by davemast Every year for the past 27 years, the people of Charm have turned their focus not just to providing a wonderful weekend of fun, food and frolic, but to the families in the community who are in need. This Oct. 9 and 10, the quaint little village of Charm will be filled with benefit bake sales, a flea market, yard sales throughout the town, a school benefit including old-fashioned chili and fry pies, barbecued chicken, a woolly worm crawling contest, a horse and rider skills contest, which includes the wacky and wild scoop shovel race, and many other exciting events. Yet despite all of the activities, what Charm Days is really about, and has been since it first began nearly three decades ago, is people caring for people. All of the funds from the weekend’s auction will go directly into the Charm Community Share ‘N Care Fund, which provides money to area families with medical needs. In addition, some of the benefits and bake sales are designed to aid specific families in the area suffering from large, ongoing medical bills. Each year, Share ‘N Care touches different families, and each year new hearts are touched by the kindness and compassion of those who make Charm Days possible. This year, the Friday bake sale benefit money will go to aid the Mary Ann Schlabach family, while the Saturday bake sale will benefit the Roman J. Yoder family. Proceeds from the benefit lunch stand sales on both days will go to the Raymond A. Yoder family of New Bedford. “This whole weekend is about helping people,” said Ivan J. Miller, one of the chairs for Charm Days and Share ‘N Care. “We have a great time while we focus on caring for others. We’ve got some great people who do a lot to make this event happen, and it’s because of people who care that we are able to help.” Miller also said that while the money goes toward helping pay medical bills for local families, Charm Days is a tremendous asset for every family lending a helping hand. “This is a great family event,” said Miller. “It’s kids and moms and dads and brothers and sisters doing something together, and learning about how important it is to reach out in compassion and help others.” This year will also include a new event, a cornhole tournament. Funds raised will go toward another local charity, Holmes County Relay for Life. It kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, and those wishing to enter may do so by calling 330-231-3656. While Charm Days has blossomed immensely, over the past two decades in particular, it continues to be a celebration not so big as to be overbearing. It remains tasteful and relaxed, with unique events to capture the attention of young and old alike. For instance, there is an old-time fiddling program, and the ever-popular Woolly Worm Derby, which has captured the hearts of youth from all over Amish Country. There is a volleyball tournament, which is highly competitive but incredibly fun. However, what the weekend has become notorious for over the years is the Friday afternoon thrill of the Woolly Worm Race. Beginning at 1 p.m., the children of Charm School will compete with their favorite caterpillar crawling up a string. The event has become so popular that now even the teachers at the school and business personalities in the community are joining in the fun with a race of their own. During the race, contestants blow, encourage, and clap their hands - anything to cajole their caterpillars up the line to victory. Each year’s race varies from the last, and every race is different, presenting a suspenseful, quirky race which can see the worm turn — literally — and head the wrong direction after inching out to a large lead. Then there is the annual horse fun show, which is held on the south end of town and begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. There, local horse enthusiasts will ride hard, maneuver fast and enjoy a host of original horse games. “Many of the entries know they aren’t going to win the category they enter, yet each entry pays five to 10 dollars for each category, knowing that all proceeds will go to the Share ‘N Care fund,” said Eric Guggisberg. “That’s a real example of the love in our community.” Nearly a dozen different competitions are held throughout the day, pitting friends against friends in a rivalry that is well-contested, but all have a grand time. There are plenty of other fantastic options to participate in throughout the weekend. Pomerene Hospital will be encamped at Keim Lumber both days, from 7:30 to 11 a.m., for a health clinic. There will be a silent auction in the Charm school yard to benefit Hospice. Barbecue chicken by D&S Bar BQ will provide not only a succulent meal, but a perfect complementary aroma to the festivities. For dessert, try a fry pie, or dive into a bowl of homemade ice cream. All the while, some of the area’s best local entertainers will provide lively music. Friday night’s Old Time Fiddle Playing show kicks off at 7 p.m., with talented groups including Liberated 4 HIM, Salt Creek Inc., Faces Made for the Radio and Kenny Sidle lining up to play. The main auction takes place Saturday, and features some excellent donated items, many of which are on display at Keim Lumber. A Piney Woods 9 Patch quilt with an outdoors motif, quilts, a beautifully handcrafted reclaimed White Oak wall clock, a 200-watt Yamaha generator, an 1,100 pound Holstein steer, and plenty of other unique offerings spice up the auction. In addition, this year there will be something quite unusual available for history lovers. “We’ve got a large number of original Dan Troyer photos and slides back from the 1950s and 1960s,” said John Swaffer, Charm Days public relations director. “They are mostly of the Charm countryside and the town itself. It’s really a unique look at the history of Charm. The town was definitely a different place back then, but it still has a lot of the same quaint traits it is known for today.” The final attraction of the day on Saturday, at 4 p.m., is the prize drawing of all participating merchants and the announcement of the lucky winner of the $1,000 grand prize. Don’t miss this wonderfully rustic weekend in Charm on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10, where “charm” could not be more fitting.


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