Fall festival adds fun, shopping to Sept. 30 events

The last Saturday in September is shaping up to be a busy one in Fort Scott. Parades, exhibits, games. It seems the activities are limitless.

Some of the events taking place that day are part of the Historic Downtown Fort Scott Fall Festival, a day of shopping and fun activities planned by several local downtown merchants.

This year's event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in downtown Fort Scott. The festival is also sponsored by the Downtown Fort Scott Program, a division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of the event, which is free of charge to the public, is to promote Fort Scott and draw tourists downtown to see what those businesses have to offer and help out the local economy, committee member Jean Jackson said.

"It's mainly for our merchants, to bring people down here and spend money," Jackson said.

A variety of activities have been scheduled to take place on Skubitz Plaza and in the downtown area that Saturday. During festival hours that day, two chamber trolleys will transport passengers to and from the 50th annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.

Downtown merchants will be allowed to set up in front of their businesses to sell merchandise on the sidewalks, Jackson said. Out-of-town merchants and vendors, who will be charged a $15 advertising fee, will be able to set up shop in front of unoccupied buildings downtown, she said.

Following the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta downtown parade at 10 a.m., barriers blocking city streets downtown will be removed so that patrons may browse through merchandise available from downtown merchants, Jackson said. The Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Main St., will provide tables for wares to be displayed, she said.

A Breakfast on the Bricks event is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Citizens Bank Pavilion and Heritage Park near First and Main streets. Activities taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day include an open house and tours of the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St., and a flea market and auction near that area. Both the downtown breakfast and activities at the Scottish Rite Temple are new events to the festival this year, Jackson said.

Craft booths and the downtown sidewalk sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 on North Main Street and on the Skubitz Plaza, which is located across from the Fort Scott National Historic Site grounds.

Pony and horse rides will also be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30.

A dog show is planned for noon on Saturday on North Main Street near the Skubitz Plaza. About 50 dogs were entered in last year's competition, and organizers expect more entries this year, Jackson said.

Before the dog show, registration for a Best Decorated Pumpkin Contest, that is open to area youngsters, will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best decorated pumpkins that are painted or decorated in other ways. One category in the pumpkin decorating contest will be available for clients at Tri Valley Developmental Services, Jackson said.

A variety of other children's games are planned following the dog show.

Jackson also said that the number of activities going on that day in Fort Scott should not hinder attendance at the downtown festival.

"Combining with the fiesta, we should get a lot more people downtown," she said. "This hasn't been done in a long time. I think with two trolleys running, it's going to work out okay."