ELSMORE — Downtown Elsmore will be the setting Saturday as the community celebrates its annual fall festival.
There are several events planned, starting with the Activities Building opening at 10 a.m.
The 11 a.m. parade will include a Salute to the Armed Forces, followed by a pulled pork dinner with cheesy potatoes at 11:30. Meal prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Kids games, including a cupcake walk, sack race, zombie eye toss, pick pocket tag and ping pong toss start at 1 p.m. on Main Street. Older students will take part in a tug-of-war, barrel races, water challenges and balloon games.
Also at 1 o’clock is the baby contest and a horseshoe tournament.
Bingo games begin at 1:30 in the Community Building.
Cornhole boards will be set up at 2:30.
A merchant drawing follows at 3, where participants must be present to win a variety of goods donated by local merchants.
Meanwhile, tickets will be sold throughout the day for a second drawing for cash prizes, where folks do not have to be on hand to be eligible.
A free bean feed caps the fun at 4 p.m. People should bring a kettle or table service.
Concessions and bake sale items will be set up in the fire barn for the day, where festival-goers can munch on hot dogs, nachos, chili pies and drinks. Ice cream will be available around noon.
THE CELEBRATION also allows the community to mark the 58th anniversary of Elsmore Ruritan’s charter as a community support club.
Proceeds will go towards a number of projects, including donations to Marmaton Valley School activities, college scholarships, Christmas bags for school children and seniors, sponsoring Allen County Fair trophies, and a spring dog and cat vaccination clinic.
Ruritan also assists with food distribution for the Humboldt Ministerial Alliance by adding additional fresh foods and meat items purchased from various grant funds and donations.
Area families can also be included in Ruritan’s holiday food box distributions. A non-perishable food collection box will be at the concession stand for those wishing to donate.
