Fletcher ushers in autumn with traditional Fall Festival, adds new Miss Fall Fest contest

The Fletcher community gathered Saturday to welcome the season in the newly paved downtown area. The Fletcher Fall Street Festival ran from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This year’s events were organized by Eden Smith and Nettie Fisher. The pair worked tirelessly along with the help of many other volunteers. Michelle Zimmerman oversaw the chili and baking competitions while Rebecca Jones ran the coloring contest at the community center. Fall pumpkin and hay bale photo backdrops were created by Mason and Jordan Dearing. Care Bears Jackie Ellis, Mande Sommers Donohue and Jennifer Buehre helped Trail of Fear cast members emcee the costume contest.

Festival fun is not complete without good eats, and local food trucks did not disappoint. Krazy Kones, Mother Cluckin’ Chicken, Electric Eclectic Eats, Redbone Indian Tacos, Savage’s Smokehouse, and BAM Mexican Food were all on hand to feed hungry festivalgoers. Local vendors displayed an assortment of wares, from custom leather products to bars of goat milk soap. Cyril Tiny Pirates Cheer Team and local Native American dancers took the stage to provide lively lunchtime entertainment.

The first-ever Miss Fall Fest Contest was held this year during the festival. The girls dressed up for two categories: formal wear and casual wear. The girl who sold the most tickets from each age category won the competition. Tickets were drawn for prizes during intermission. All proceeds went to support the Town of Fletcher community events.

The costume contest was a bit scary, but the contestants, who ranged in age from 0 to 13, were not to blame. Cast members from the Trail of Fear, who helped emcee the event, wore costumes from horror movies. One wore an apron made of human faces while another wore the skin of a decapitated pig over his head. The third cast member was dressed as a killer clown named Twisty. When the children were interviewed by the horror movie cast members, some declined, and, to their relief were instead interviewed by adults dressed as Care Bears.

The weather was perfect and entertainment by Lindsay Hood and Waylon Holly made the evening atmosphere lively and enjoyable. The 5K Run was a glowing success, literally. Many families, including children, participated wearing glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces. Volunteers refreshed runners with cold water bottles at the halfway mark, and participants crossed the finish line to the tune of “Silver Wings,” by Merle Haggard.