Catoosa County Fall Festival doubles in size

Contributed photo by Chelsea Hoge / Attendees at last year's Fall Festival in Catoosa County compete in a sack race. At the Oct. 5 event, children will receive bags to trick-or-treat at over 50 vendors at the event.
Contributed photo by Chelsea Hoge / Attendees at last year's Fall Festival in Catoosa County compete in a sack race. At the Oct. 5 event, children will receive bags to trick-or-treat at over 50 vendors at the event.
photo Contributed photo by Chelsea Hoge / Attendees can look forward to two hayride options at the Catoosa County Recreation Department's Fall Festival on Oct. 5.

Fresh air, carved pumpkins and hayrides are hallmarks of autumn, and the season will be in full swing Oct. 5 at the second annual Fall Festival hosted by the Catoosa County Recreation Department in Ringgold.

Chelsea Hoge, an assistant with the recreation department, said that since the first year was such a success, the team wanted to expand the event this year. The production has more than doubled, she said, going from 20 vendors to over 50 this year - everything from crafters to local eateries to nonprofits.

Upon arrival, each kid will receive a bag to fill with goodies whilst trick-or-treating at the vendors' booths.

With the support of sponsors and donations, kids will also be able to decorate pumpkins for free this year, instead of last year's charge of $1 per pumpkin, said Hoge. There will be over 500 pumpkins in varying sizes for carving and painting.

Attendees will also be able to hop aboard hayrides for tours through the fields behind the Northwest Georgia Amphitheatre where the main festivities will be located. This year, the festival boasts two different hayrides rather than just one.

Adding to the seasonal fun, there will be a doughnut-eating contest, face painting, obstacle courses, inflatable bounce houses and live music from Tennessee-local Tyson Leamon. At dusk, an outdoor airing of "Ghostbusters" will take over, but vendors will hang around until 10 p.m.

The free community-wide event starts at 4 p.m. at the amphitheater, 220 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold.

Email Sabrina Bodon at sbodon@timesfreepress.com

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