Harvest Moon Fest celebrates downtown

Main Street Van Wert information

The third annual Harvest Moon Festival in historic downtown Van Wert will be the last weekend of October. This year’s schedule includes activities for everyone in the family.

Kicking off the weekend will be the return of the Carved Pumpkin Contest. Those who have pumpkin carving skills should bring their already-carved pumpkin to the Main Street Van Wert Office before 6 p.m. Friday, October 26, where it will be judged and set on display through the Halloween weekend. Winning pumpkins will be awarded gift prizes and highlighted for all to see during the events on Saturday.

Beginning October 26, visitors to Van Wert will find great bargains as many participating downtown businesses roll out Harvest Moon Festival sales.

Downtown restaurants will be selling fall themed treats and drinks. From 4 to 8 p.m., the Market on Main will host the final market of the season including homegrown, handcrafted, and fine direct sell products. All ages will be able to participate in “The Great Pumpkin Hunt” – a scavenger hunt through the historic downtown area.

“The Settler”, a ghostly historian, will haunt listeners with chilling tales of Van Wert’s past at the Garden of the Senses, where people can warm up with free hot cocoa or apple cider. Throughout the evening, an old-fashioned hay wagon ride will take participants on a fall tour of Downtown.

Saturday, October 27, will begin with a brisk 1-mile Fun Run and then 5K Trick-or-Trot. Registration begins at 7:30, with the races at 8:30 and 9 a.m. Both routes begin and end in front of the County Courthouse. Costumed runners are highly encouraged! Registration forms can be picked up at the Main Street Van Wert Office or downloaded from the website.

After the run, children will want to visit the downtown businesses from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for Trick-or Treating, with the first 100 kids receiving free reusable Trick or Treat bags from Stahl Stoller Meyer Insurance.

Children and adults can try their hand at Pumpkin Bowling and participate in fall crafts at the Arts Factory. Shutterbugg Studio will be taking Halloween costume portraits and Fettig’s Flowers is hosting its fall arrangement workshop at noon.

When downtown activities are over, visit the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for the annual Fall Fright Fest with even more Halloween games and activities.

For more information on any events, contact Main Street Van Wert at 419.238.6911 or e-mail vwdowntown@embarqmail.com. Event schedule, details, and registration forms are on the Main Street website at www.MainStreetVanWert.org.