Orchard School puts big fundraising event on one-year hiatus

The Orchard in Bloom Flower Show, one of the largest annual fundraisers on the city's north side, is taking a year off after 25 years, officials at the Orchard School said.

Deb Mattingly, who oversees the event for the private school, said it was canceled this year only because of renovations at its usual host location, Holliday Park at 64th and Meridian streets.

The show, which always takes place the first weekend of May, will re-commence in 2016, Mattingly said.

"It's not canceled for good," Mattingly said. "It's just taking a year off to help them get their construction and beautification of the park underway."

Last year's three-day event, which was co-sponsored by Indy Parks, drew about 8,000 visitors. The event typically features more than 100 vendors and exhibitors, food, activities and entertainment.

Mattingly said the school opted for a hiatus instead of "starting something new in a place we never had it" or interrupting regularly scheduled weekend activities on campus.

Cancellation discussions began last fall, she said. The school hopes to replace the $85,000 to $95,000 in proceeds the flower show usually draws through existing and new events.

The Orchard School, 615 W. 64th St., is the city's third-largest private primary school, with 600 students in preschool through 8th grade. Annual tuition and fees at the school, which was founded in 1922, range from $8,700 to $19,500.