As the festival circuit begins to wind down, this is the last weekend of fall-themed events. November's events will lean toward Christmas markets and shows with holiday handwork.
-The fifth Bird & Barn show is Thursday at Black Fox Farms in Cleveland, Tennessee. This is the place to start your Christmas shopping, if you haven't already. The 30 exhibitors there are handpicked by show organizers. They bring a combination of gift items and quality handmade pieces, such as Karen Guethlein's Brick Kiln ceramics that are sold in Anthropologie and in Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's Mercantile. This is the only fall show in which Guethlein participates.
All proceeds from this show benefit Project Free2Fly, a nonprofit that teaches employable skills, such as sewing, to women in this community. Visitors will find some of their work sold in the show also.
-The third Red Bank Artisan Festival on Saturday is a gathering of about 50 area craftsmen showing handmade work. No commercially made products are permitted. At midday, the Alhambra Highlanders Pipes and Drums Band will perform.
-NormalPalooza block party is Saturday on West Mississippi Avenue. It's Normal Park Museum Magnet School's annual music and arts festival on the campus of the upper school. Fun for kids is naturally just as important as activities that will entertain parents at a school fundraiser - and NormalPalooza has no shortage of either.
There will be adventure sports, inflatables, an art market, games, live bands, trick-or-treating and a new Halloween costume contest. Food trucks are on-site for families who want to make a day of it and buy lunch there.
Tickets are available for the Wrecking Ball, a 28-foot Kraken slide, the Gladiator Joust, an interactive chase-the-light arena, a four-station Euro-Bungee Trampoline, Spider Web Mountain, Toxic Drop, Wipeout Meltdown Zone, Sticky Soccer and a 3-Hole Putt Putt golf course.
This year, families have the opportunity to rent cabanas on the football field to make having a day full of fun easier for everyone. Specially priced ticket bundles can be purchased online at normalpark.kindful.com.
NormalPalooza's entertainment schedule is Buddy Shirk, noon; Uncle Lightnin', 1 p.m.; Dr. B and the Ease, 2 p.m.; and Trent Williams & the Menagerie, 3 p.m.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.