For the first time ever, a week-long Fall Festival is coming to Southbury, the town’s Parks and Recreation Department announced this week.
From Tuesday, October 14th to Saturday, October 18th, activities will take place throughout the week in the Parks and Recreation building at 561 Main Street South.
The annual outdoor movie night will cap off the week on Saturday, October 18, at the Town Hall Green, 501 Main St South.
All activities and events are free to attend for Southbury residents, though some activities require registration. Residents of other towns are welcome to join for a small fee. There is no admission fee required for the movie night; all are welcome.
Free programs including pumpkin carving, scarecrow building, milkweed seed sowing, a guessing contest, and a Take-and-Make Craft will be offered during the Fall Festival week.
For registered participants, pumpkins will be provided, as well as scarecrow building materials (or bring your own clothes to stuff) on Tuesday, October 14 at 4:30 PM and Thursday, October 16 at 6:00 PM.
Participants are strongly encouraged to leave their creations with the Parks and Rec team so all can enjoy a festive Town Hall Green for movie night. Creations will be available for pick-up that night or the week after.
Clothes and accessories have been donated by the Southbury Training School Thrift Shops. Registration is required to participate in both the Scarecrow Building and the Pumpkin Carving programs.
A program to sow milkweed seeds will be hosted in the Parks and Rec building and run by the Southbury Land Trust on Wednesday, October 15, at 4:30 pm. Space is limited, and registration is required.
Register for all programs at the Parks and Recreation office or online at southburyct.myrec.com.
Pumpkin and Scarecrow contests will be held on Saturday, October 18 at 4:30 pm. Submissions can be brought to the Parks and Rec office during regular business hours until Friday, October 17, or on Saturday to the Town Hall Green after 4:00 pm.
Prizes will be awarded to the Best Pumpkin by a Child, Teen, Adult, and Family, and a prize for Best Overall Scarecrow.
There will be a children’s costume parade at 5:00 PM. Come dressed to impress – prizes will be given for costumes in the following categories: Spookiest, Silliest, and Sparkliest.
Members from the Southbury Arts and Culture Alliance (SACA) will be leading the judging of the three contests.
Throughout the night, popcorn will be served by Fun Flicks Entertainment, cider served by the Knights of Columbus, and apples donated by Hidden Gem Orchard.
The outdoor movie showing will begin at sunset, around 6:15 PM. The classic Halloween movie, with a PG rating and a run time of 96 minutes, is co-sponsored by the Southbury Public Library. (Because of licensing and copyright agreements, the Library cannot list the title of the film.)
The Southbury Record 