Hope Fall Fest

It was a clear, crisp Saturday afternoon for the Fall Fest in Downtown Hope. The intersection of South Main Street and Division was bustling with young hearts of all ages, laughing, exploring, and breaking-in this year’s costumes.

The Evening Lions Club had a colorful array of games set up, as well as face-painting and bouncy houses, all of which proved very popular with the very-young crowd.

If their sweet spoils weren’t enough, the kids could find even more sugary treasure along trunk-or-treat running down main street, which tied in seamlessly with the antique car show sponsored by Plow Boys Car Club. Both sides of the road were lined with classic rides, both shiny and not so shiny, some looking like they’d just driven of the set of a 50’s film, others looking a little rougher but boasting a surprise under the hood. More than a few were also dressed for the season, sporting spider webs, pumpkins, or suspiciously cheerful skeletons behind the wheel. The Plow Boys Car Club also held a raffle, prizes including gift cards to local businesses, hardware sets, and more.

Just around the corner, The Noon Lions Club was happy to present their Chili Cook-off, which, for a small donation, anyone could participate in tasting and judging. “Chili Chili Bang Bang” was the victorious team, Alex Burton and Homer Zartman happy to bring home the win with their venison chili.

The Hope Civitan Club set up tables for pumpkin-decorating and face-painting, and kids of all ages eagerly expressed their creativity on the orange gourds. There was also a hay ride that began making rounds as the sun set.

All-in-all, a very well-organized and well-attended afternoon full of grins, costumes, paint, food, and fun.