Bluffton’s family-friendly 14th annual Fall Festival is Saturday, Sept. 23. Activities are in six locations throughout the community with most taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As in past festivals, bus transportation is available between all locations at scheduled intervals.
Here’s the schedule, by location:
Maple Crest Senior Living Village, 700 Maple Crest Court
• Antique tractor show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Live music, Wild Steelions steel drum band, 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.; more live music, 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
• Kiddie tractor pull, registration 12:30-1 p.m., pull starts 1 p.m.
• Fishing derby (bait and poles provided), 2-3 p.m.
• Food for sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St.
• Horse-drawn carriage rides between MMH and downtown, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Silent auction, MMH lobby. Bids accepted from Sept. 18 to noon on Sept. 23.
• Bake sale, 10 a.m. until sold out. Proceeds benefit volunteer service group
• Balance test by Northwest Physical Therapy, 10 a.m.-noon
• Kid’s activities –, train rides, face painting, straw dig, lawn jenga/corn hole boards, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Kid’s bike raffle, no purchase necessary to enter, drawing at 3:30 p.m.
• Food for sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Fun photo booth, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Outdoor Bingo (no cash prizes), 3-4 p.m.
• Kettle corn, maple syrup, soaps and lotions for sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Downtown Bluffton
• Main Street retail district - businesses open
• Farmers’ market, over 25 vendors, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Citizens National Bank parking lot.
• Festival praise and worship, Presbyterian Church lawn, music by Bluffton congregations, tent with seating, 10 a.m.-noon
• Senior Citizens Center toy car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Center will have lunch items during the show.
Swiss Community Historical Society Homestead, 8350 Bixel Road
Bluffton Scrap Artists quilt show, petting zoo, straw bale maze and other kid’s games, corn shelling, bread-baking, soup cooking, old-time rural crafts, wagon rides, horse plowing, Swiss-German music, historical exhibits, food for sale, self-guided tours of 1840s garden, barn, workshop, summer kitchen and house. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
BFR Sports and Fitness, 215 Snider Road
5th annual craft and home business expo. Booths of gifts, specialty items and other vendors. Past expos included home improvement, quilts, handmade furniture, glassware, patchwork animals, crocheted items, and fair-trade jewelry. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Also: meet the BFR staff, tour the facility, watch demonstrations on exercise equipment, and for $1 paint a pumpkin.
Bluffton Hospital, 139 Garau St.
Lots of kid’s activities including pony rides, inflatable bounce house, slide, obstacle course, pumpkin decorating and light refreshments. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Updates/additional information/cancellations
For updates and complete information on the Bluffton Fall Festival visit its Facebook at facebook.com/BlufftonFallFest or www.blufftonfallfestival.com. See posted signs at the “bus stop” at each location for the schedule. Parking is available at each location.
