West Meadow's Fall Festival Returns with a Slightly Different Look

The West Meadow Fall Festival is returning this October after taking a year off, and organizers say the event will look a little different than longtime attendees remember. The festival, formerly held in the parking lot behind the shopping center on Meadow Lane, will move to the green space behind the community center, which offers more room and better access for families with strollers and wheelchairs.

"The old spot worked for years, but we'd outgrown it," said festival chairperson Rosa Delgado. "The new space has a real lawn, room for more vendors, and actual bathrooms. That last one is not a small thing."

What's on the Schedule

The festival will run from eleven in the morning until six in the evening, a slightly shorter window than in past years. Delgado said the change was made after feedback that the previous eight-hour schedule was hard on volunteers and vendors. "We'd rather have six good hours than eight exhausting ones," she said.

The day will kick off with a costume parade for kids, followed by a lineup of local musicians on a small stage. The pumpkin decorating contest, a favorite in past years, returns with a new category for adults. "Last year we had a lot of adults who clearly wanted to enter but felt weird about it," Delgado said. "So now there's a grown-up bracket. May the best gourd win."

Food vendors will include several neighborhood favorites, along with a few new additions. The community center's kitchen will run a bake sale, with proceeds going toward a new heating system for the building. Organizers are also planning a silent auction featuring donations from local businesses, including gift certificates and handmade items.

For families with younger children, there will be a craft table, a face-painting station, and a small petting area with animals from a nearby farm. Older kids and adults can look forward to a cornhole tournament and a scarecrow-building contest, both of which require advance sign-up.

Volunteers and Vendors Still Needed

The festival is organized entirely by volunteers, and Delgado said more hands are always welcome. Needs range from setup and cleanup to staffing the information booth and helping with the kids' activities. Volunteers who commit to a two-hour shift receive a free meal voucher and, according to Delgado, "the warm feeling of being part of something."

Vendor applications are also open, with a preference for local makers and small businesses. Booth fees are modest, and organizers are reserving a handful of spots for neighborhood groups and nonprofits at no cost.

Delgado said the year off gave the planning committee time to rethink the event and make it more sustainable. "We want this to keep going for another twenty years," she said. "That means not burning out the same ten people every fall. So if you've ever thought about helping, this is the year."

The festival will be held rain or shine, with indoor space available in the community center if needed. More information and sign-up forms are available at the community center front desk and at the neighborhood association's monthly meeting.