GREENE COUNTY — This Saturday, May 16, Greene County residents are invited to a special celebration at the Fowler Pumpkin Patch to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The “Once Upon a Time” fundraiser aims to sustain and expand a program that currently sparks a love of reading in more than 700 local children.
The event will run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Fowler Pumpkin Patch, located at 5060 N. Greene County Line Road. Organizers noted the event will be held rain or shine, as the patch’s barn will be open to guests.
The free afternoon offers a variety of activities for all ages, including several new features for 2026:
- New Activities: Face painting and the launch of a new online auction.
- Entertainment: Live music from Jack McDivitt and a special visit from an Eastern Greene County Fire Territory fire truck.
- Photo Ops: Attendees can snap a picture with a life-sized Dolly Parton cutout.
- Food and Drink: On-site refreshments will be provided by Pappy Shack, Pour Pony, and Bruster’s Ice Cream, alongside a cash bar serving beer and wine.
Online Auction Now Live
For the first time, supporters can participate in an online silent auction. Featured items currently available for bidding include:
- A full-size signed IU Football (championship edition) and a signed IU Championship hat.
- Four tickets to Kings Island.
- Outdoor Living Items: A firepit set with blue glass rocks and a two-tier outdoor pizza oven.
Bidding is open to the public at zeffy.com. In-person attendees are also encouraged to bring cash to participate in the on-site raffle.
While the Dollywood Foundation selects the books for the program, the cost of the books and postage is entirely dependent on local community support. It costs approximately $32 per child, per year to deliver a high-quality book each month to a child’s mailbox from birth to age five.
Currently, 2,800 children in the region receive these books thanks to community funding. As enrollment continues to rise, events like “Once Upon a Time” are critical to ensuring the program remains active for all eligible Greene County families.
Those unable to attend the event but interested in contributing can sponsor a child’s annual book subscription through the organization’s website.
