The Project Band of Anderson performs at Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. The performers (from left) include Ginger Seal, Dan Daugherty, Kent Claghorn and Jim Maidlow. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Seth Estep, a member of Lapel Lions Club, cooks up some chicken at Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Josephine Middleton of Anderson selects a prize in the new games area in the parking lot of Hersberger Bozell Funeral Home during Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Children go for a ride on Bob's Bumpy Barrels during Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
People stroll down Main Street during Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Linda Fink fills bags of kettle korn for sale at Aunt Jean's Fun Foods, while coworker Judi Carpenter arranges them at the front of the booth, during Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9.
2021 Madison County 4-H Fair Queen Lucy Loller of Lapel rides down Main Street during the Lapel Village Fair parade, followed by Lapel High School's Macy Beeson, two-time state golf champion. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
(From left) Wyatt Rushing, Jaxson Rushing and Burkley Ellis watch the Lapel Village Fair parade on Saturday afternoon, while Burkley's cousin Huxley Ellis checks out the action from his stroller after waking up from a nap. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
People with the Bethel Baptist Church float pass out frozen treats during the Lapel Village Fair parade on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Lapel Girl Scout Troop 507 passes out candy during the Lapel Village Fair parade on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
Jeff Humble, a Pendleton resident and member of the Madison County Shrine Club’s Desert Patrol, shares a few words with Sydni Hershberger of Lapel after presenting her with a stuffed animal. The Desert Patrol made several such presentations during the Lapel Village Fair parade on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
The Musselman Farms parade float passes down Main Street during the Lapel Village Fair on Saturday, July 9. By Scott Slade | The Times-Post
LAPEL — Lapel Village Fair came roaring back to life for the first time since 2019, drawing people to town for a two-day celebration with food, live music, a parade, children’s activities and more.
“Everything went on — it was a great success,” said Margo Sink, the person in charge of booths for Lapel Community Association, which organizes the fair.
After the rain on Friday, July 8, “it was packed” that night, she said. And on Saturday it was sunshine all day.
“There was very good turnout, the vendors did well.”
A good indicator of how busy it was — despite the fair being canceled the past two years because of COVID-19 — many vendors sold out of merchandise and went ahead and paid next year’s vendor fee, Sink said.
“It was a good show,” she said.
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Seth Estep, a member of the Lapel Lions Club who grilled chicken both days at the club booth, confirmed that fact at midday on Saturday.
“Yesterday (Friday) was a great day,” he said. “We sold about 600 pounds.”
With about half the day to go on Saturday, sales were at 400 pounds for the day.
“It’s great to have the festival back,” he said. “The club loves to support the community … help wherever we can.”
Eating corn-on-the-cob curbside, fairgoer Karen Prater of Noblesville said she and her family “try to come every year.”
Her daughter, Katie Prater, added, “we haven’t been able to because of COVID.”
Katie Prater said she loves the Lapel fair because “it’s got a very nice atmosphere.”
“Very homey,” Karen Prater added.
It jibes with what Sink said she heard at the Lapel Community Association table during the fair.
“Everyone kept saying how nice our town was,” Sink said.
Next year’s fair is already scheduled, she said, for July 7-8.