Grafton to celebrate all things fall with family fun Saturday

It’s time to Fall Into Grafton this Saturday.

The annual free festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Paramount Plaza and the area along 12th Avenue north of Cedar Street, which will be closed to traffic.

The festival features a variety of events for the whole family. 

The annual pumpkin derby will be held at 3 p.m. Registration will be from 1 to 3 p.m.

Kits complete with wheels for $15 are for sale ahead of time at Bank Five Nine, the event sponsor, so competitors can ready their pumpkins for the race. The event will follow a pinewood derby-like format, with a prize for the winner.

The fee is refundable when the kit is returned.  

Aurora Health Care will have a booth offering pumpkin painting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Grafton Police Department’s chili cookoff runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A children’s costume contest will be held at 2 p.m.

James the Magician will perform his show from noon to 12:45 p.m. 

Children may test their golf skills at area businesses’ putting greens in Puttin’ Around Grafton from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prizes will be given to the winners.

There is a $10 fee per tee time for as many as four golfers.

Other attractions include a balloon artist, children’s games and crafts, a caricature artist and corn pit.

Painted rocks will be hidden throughout the community and may be turned in during the festival for a chance to win a prize.

Elbow Room food truck will sell burgers, wings and deep-fried desserts, and the Cha House food truck will offer Asian dishes and desserts.

The Grafton Parks and Recreation Department will serve grilled cheese sandwiches.

The Clover Wonder band will perform from 2 to 3 p.m.

One of the unique elements of the event is that it allows nonprofit organizations to set up booths with children’s activities and hold fundraisers for free.

For more information, visit https://grafton-wi.org/events/celebrate-grafton-events or Celebrate Grafton’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateGrafton.