By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Octoberfest, the City of Grayson’s annual fall festival event, returns to downtown next Saturday, October 25, and brings a ton of fun with it. Fans of the annual event can look forward to more of what they enjoyed last year, plus a whole lot more, Grayson tourism director Lana Axtell said. There will be events taking place all day from 11 am until 10 pm, but the sweet start to the day begins at 9 a.m., and runs until 10:30, when Prichard Elementary holds their Hocus Pocus Pancake Breakfast.
Axtell said that if you would prefer something savory instead of sweet to start your day, there will be plenty of options, including samples from the cooking contests and offerings from food trucks – but of course everyone is welcome to enjoy both options.
“There will be a Chili Cook-Off over at the fire department,” Axtell said, highlighting one of those savory options. “And that will be run by the East Carter cheerleaders, so that’s a big thing.”
The entry fee for the Chili Cook-Off will be $50, which allows participants to share their best and latest chili creations with the public from 8:30 am until noon while competing for prizes and bragging rights. The judging for the cook-off will take place at Noon, with prizes awarded in different categories.
The day isn’t just about food, though. There are also stories, characters, activities, and costume events.
“We are going to have some new stuff, but there will be stuff from last year that we are doing again,” Axtell said. “We will have the kids costume parade this year, and of course we will have inflatables again.”
There will also be special appearances from favorite seasonal and pop culture characters like Beetlejuice and Bigfoot. In addition to that there will be appearances by the Sanderson Sisters, and characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Axtell said.
Some of the other wonderful things event goers can look forward to are a pet parade and blessing, a children’s carnival (Noon to 4 p.m.), a pumpkin patch and paint your own pumpkin space, kid’s crafts, and face painting. There will also be a cornhole tournament – with a $200 prize – the Haunted Hustle 5k Run, trunk or treat, and an outdoor movie at the Grayson Church of the Nazarene parking lot. And of course, no event is complete without live music. The Octoberfest stage will feature performances from Dustin Burchett, Kentucky Clear, Jake and the Fire Eaters, local choirs, and others.
This year Axtell said there will also be a special treat in the form of a ‘Thriller’ dance performance. The Queen’s Pageant will be on the main stage downtown beginning at noon, Axtell said, and the art show by Haley Bayes will be going on at the same time. With around 80 vendors including food trucks adding to the lineup there is sure to be something for everyone, Axtell said.
The Nook & Cranny Coffeehouse will also be hosting a special event for Octoberfest from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Campfire Tales and Treats will feature tales of the strange and macabre told by local storytellers and will showcase the rich Appalachian storytelling tradition. Stories will range from those ‘spooky’ stories told to thrill and excite children to the more somber and terrifying tales told to adults around a crackling fire deep in the dark woods. Family friendly stories appropriate for all ages will be featured from 5 – 6, with tales more appropriate for adults and older teens featured after 6:30.
Nook & Cranny owners Jeremy and Nicole Wells invite everyone to come down and share their scary stories.
“Especially if those stories are true,” Jeremy added.
And before listening to those hair raising true tales (and a few that are rumored to be true), be sure to stop by and take advantage of tourism’s s’mores station, which will be set up in front of the coffee house, to help smooth out the goosebumps and end the evening on a sweet note.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
