Dawg Dash 2018 /Poster courtesy of Striders
The City of Grandville is once again preparing to mark the changing of seasons. An annual event for Grandville, Fall Fest is a celebration of local businesses. This Saturday, October 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you’ll be able to see it all in the Franklin Street Corridor. Located in downtown Grandville on Chicago Drive and Wilson Ave. SW, Fall Fest is the perfect way to spend the day with your family.
Highlights of the event include live music provided by The Sandy Bend Bluegrass Band from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., kids’ games and crafts, and the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show. Coming all the way from Mackinac City, the Jack Pine Lumberjacks are a new addition to Fall Fest this year. They will be performing at two separate times, at 12PM and 2PM in the Kent District Library – Grandville Branch Amphitheater. Entry to this event is free for all, and you can find out more about the lumberjacks at their site.
In the week leading up to Fall Fest, all around Grandville, local businesses are putting out scarecrows of their own creation, and come Saturday, fest-goers will be able to vote on who has the best one. It gives the locals a chance to visit all the local businesses, and for the businesses to let their creativity in representing their work. The winner will earn the right to showcase the contest’s trophy for an entire year.
And if you’re interested in delicious food, there will be a Chili Cook-Off hosted by Grandville-Jenison’s Rotary Club during Fall Fest in the Franklin Street Corridor. You can also see Mayor Steve Maas as he hosts the Jalapeño Eating Contest at 2:30 p.m., rules and registration of which you can see here. 1st place prize is bragging rights and $100! Participation is free, but you must be registered ahead of time – registration closes on October 5.
While most of the above events are free, some of the other events of the fest do require tickets, which you can buy at the event for a $1 a ticket, with deals of 6 for $5 and 15 for $10. You can spend your tickets at events like the Kregel Bounce House, Arts and Crafts, Horse-drawn Carriage Rides, Hoverball Archery, Pumpkin Decorating, and Mechanical Bull Rides. You can find more about the events, food vendors, and the City of Grandville at the event site.
And if you’re in town earlier on in the day, Striders is hosting their 6th Annual Dawg Dash at 10 a.m. before the Fall Fest. The 5K run is the perfect way to stretch out those legs before the winter hits. Registration is $15 for individuals and $45 for families, and all racers will receive a Dawg Dash T-shirt. You can root for your local high schools in the race as the school with the most participators will take the Traveling Trophy and Dawg Dash champion shirts for the 2019 race. You can find more information on the race and registration at Strider’s event page. Same day registration will be available at the start of the race at the Striders on Chicago Drive, but they cannot guarantee t-shirts for those who register then.
With a variety of events happening throughout the day, Fall Fest 2018 is a sure way to liven up your Saturday.
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