Spring Sensation

at Coxhall Mansion 2023

The Coxhall Guild, an affiliate of Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., invites the public to attend the Second Annual Spring Sensation. This special fundraiser will be held at the stately Coxhall Mansion on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Guests will be given the opportunity to peruse unique offerings from local specialty retailers and enjoy a tearoom, a Signature Cocktail Bar (at a small additional cost) and melodic entertainment performed by Melanie Mashner, a member of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

A collection of highly respected professional decorators, florists and individuals will design and display spectacular tables- capes and décor, as inspiration for hosting your own special spring and summer events, such as graduations, weddings and other memorable occasions.

Supporting Local While Preserving a Cherished Amenity

As an affiliate of the Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., the Coxhall Guild is helping support their goals in making the Coxhall estate a place for families and others to gather and appreciate the beauty and educational opportunities offered in this setting.

We spoke with Kimberly Shoemaker, event chair, and April Williams, executive director, both of the Friends of Hamilton County Parks, about the importance of featuring Coxhall Gardens and the Coxhall Mansion, as well as what this year’s attendees can expect at this remarkable event.

“Coxhall [Gardens and Mansion] is a treasure, and it is a legacy that we contin ue to carry on,” Williams expressed. “And I’m proud to be a part of that — I think it’s really a special place.”

Additionally, we spoke with Shoemaker about the importance of supporting not Coxhall Gardens and Hamilton County’s parks but the participating women-owned small businesses as well.

“The event is a two-part fundraising event,” Shoemaker explained. “One part will be located in the conference room, and the second part will be located in the balance of the mansion. In the conference room, we will be focusing on the tablescape designs that are being created by florists, designers and decorators. Primarily, all participants are local women-owned businesses who will be tickling our senses with their interpretations of spring.”

Throughout the mansion, guests will be able to exchange conversation and purchase products from the array of interesting [women-owned] vendors who will be selling their unique culinary or artisan products and/or promoting their services.

Engaging Activities

The event will also include door exquisite prizes and raffle items. Tickets to increase their exposure while offering the guests an opportunity to win some fun and exciting prizes at the conclusion of the event. Attendees do not need to be present at 4:00 p.m. for the drawings, but they do need to leave their contact information on their door prize and raffle tickets in order to be contacted.

“We will have refreshments in the ballroom, featuring finger sandwiches [and] sweet treats, and we are looking at 3–4 different local businesses from which we can purchase their prepared items and present them to our guests for their refreshments,” Shoemaker said. “The guild will also have the purse sale for which we are enthusiastically trying to round up purses in good condition that we can sell for a modest fee. And inside [said purses], we will tuck some fun surprises!

Sponsorships are still available, and interested businesses, individuals or vendors should contact Kimberly Shoemaker at olongbourn@aol.com or via phone at 1-704-877-6329 for more information.

A $25 cost per person to attend the Spring Sensation includes up-close viewing of a variety of unique tablescape designs and décor, your tearoom experience and an unguided walk-though of the iconic mansion to personally visit with a variety of retailers showcasing their exquisite merchandise, made available for purchase during this special event.

The Coxhall Mansion is accessible, and the mansion features a guest elevator permitting convenient access to all three floors of the historic residence. Drop off at the mansion is accessible, but parking at the mansion entrance is prohibited. Parking is available in the parking lot.

Tickets are available for purchase at the door on the day of the event or in advance at friendsofhamiltoncountyparks.org.

Vendors for 2023

• Abby’s Garden Parties (return vendor from 2022)

• Lily’s Wearable Art - Zionsville (return vendor from 2022)

• Bloom Bar by BloomingLeaf (return vendor from 2022)

• High Class Booker – Rai Peterson (VoWC)

• Tastefully Indiana – Amy Black (Kokomo)

• Tulip Tree Creamery

• Sweets by Lauren

• Color Street Nails – Pamela Malone

• Unsoaped – Tawni Reller

Designers

• Oberer’s Flowers – Bri Hewitt (Carmel)

• Que Sera – Wedding event planners

• Gisele’s Flowers and Event Décor – Gisele Found

• Tea Parties & Murder Mystery Event planning – Karin Glass

• Yard Card Queen – Christina Champins

• Posh Picnic – Guild-hosted event

• Manners Class – Guild-hosted event