The 21st Fall Festival in Nashville, Illinois: Sept 26-28, 2009

Nashville, Illinois' biggest annual event, the Nashville (IL) Fall Festival is coming up September 26-28, 2009. It's the 21st straight year in a row for the event which gathers more than 100 craft and food vendors together along with music, a pet parade, and other activities. New this year will be a U.S.-sanctioned Strong Man Contest being organized by Ryan Blunhorst.

Vendors

The weekend starts on Friday with dozens of craft booths opening. There are all kinds of offerings from plaques to alpaca yarn to sand art for the kids to cat beds made from decorated computer monitors. The crafters are carefully selected to avoid resellers of manufactured goods, with actual handcrafters the targeted exhibitors.

Food

The food is always a huge lunchtime and dinner draw downtown. The variety available at the food court makes your mouth water. Big fish sandwiches, pork steaks, funnel cakes, hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, fresh-popped kettle corn, cake, pie, and much more, with beverages, including a beer court.

The food court is set up on the street behind the Washington County Courthouse, and is conveniently located near the foot of the main stage where entertainment of all kinds is offered. The food booths open daily at 10am. The exception is the Breakfast Booth which opens Friday and Saturdary from 6:00-10:00am.

Entertainment and More

Saturday morning at 10am is the annual Pet Parade when the kids lead their pets along the route. Registration starts at 9am.

There is continuous entertainment at the main stage throughout the weekend including numerous musical performances, a Guitar Hero competition, and also dancing, tumbling, and Sunday afternoon bingo at 2pm.

Scheduled entertainment this year includes Tony Waters DJ Service and Bumpin' Uglies on Friday and Ray Stankowski and the Polka Connection Band and One-Night Stan on Saturday.

There is always a Sunday morning church service at the main stage and a fairly new event Sunday at 1pm to honor Nashville first responders.

The annual Fall Festival is sponsored by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

5K Run

The Annual Nashville optimists Club 5K Run/Walk will be held in conjunction with the Fall Festival Sunday morning at 7:30am. The One Mile race begins at 8:30am.

Used Books

Also in conjunction with the Fall Festival Thursday through Saturday is the annual Fall Used Book sale at the Nashville Public Library, just a half block north of the main stage on the same side of the street. It's a fund-raiser put on by the Friends of the Library and raises money for various substantial library purchases. Thursday night is preview night when there is a special admission charge, but admission is free on Friday and Saturday.

Location, Admission

Nashville is an hour's drive east of the Gateway Arch along I-64 to Exit 50. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, contact the Nashville Chamber of Commerce at 618-327-3700.