Vendors aplenty at festival

By Staff, 10/10/17 1:32 PM

PRESCOTT – Patrons of the Fall Festival will see more vendors than ever at this year’s event.

Jamie Hillery, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, said there have been more requests than ever by vendors for spaces at the festival, and the requests haven’t stopped coming in yet.
Her idea is to line the entire courthouse square with vendors, if possible, and work to make the festival grow with each passing year.

The annual Fall Festival and Trade Days will be held all day Saturday at the Nevada County Courthouse. The courthouse square will be full of vendors with food, fun, games and information. There will be something for just about everyone.

The day kicks off early with the Color 5-K Run/Walk. Runners will register at 7 a.m. by Mac’s Home and Tire, with the race starting at 8 a.m. The kid’s fun run/walk will start at 11 a.m. by Prescott Flowers. Those participating in the 5k will be given packets of colored chalk to toss during the race.

This year’s festival will see the return of the Mr. and Miss Fall Festival pageant. The event is open to boys up to the age of three and girls up to age nine. Hillery said this year’s pageants will be on the main stage, not on the courthouse steps.

There will also be a pet costume contest, a youth archery competition, Bunco tournament, pie eating contest and youth basketball shootout. She said more people are needed for the basketball shootout at this time.

One of the highlights will be the pumpkin treasure hunt, with a cash prize for the winner. This year’s featured entertainment is the Jason Helms Band. Helms and company will perform at the courthouse at noon.

Throughout the day there will be music on the festival stage. There will also be bake sales, arts and crafts, food vendors, train rides, a dunking booth, inflatables for the youngsters and pony rides.

The pet costume contest will be at 2 p.m. with the Mr. and Miss pageants set for 3 o’clock. For the hunters in the crowd, the first clue for the pumpkin treasure hunt will be given at 9:30 a.m.

In addition, a Yeti portable cooler will be raffled off during the festival.

For those interested, Judy Duke, curator of the Prescott-Nevada County Depot and Museum, said the museum will be open all day Saturday and tours will of the caboose will be given.

The festival will begin at 8 a.m. and run through 4 p.m.