Officials of the October Fun Fest are planning a full day for
ghosts and goblins who aren’t afraid to have some fun.
The Fun Fest, an effort between Downtown Bradford, Bradford
Regional Medical Center’s McKean County VNA & Hospice,
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and the Bradford Hospital
Foundation, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at the
Grace Lutheran Church.
“It’s a safe place to go,” Nellie Wallace said. “Just to enjoy
the Halloween holiday.”
Wallace and Ashley Wenner are co-chairmen of the event, which
will include games, food, a wellness clinic, pumpkin painting and
baked food sale.
The Fun Fest actually started as a music festival in Westline
and was mostly for adults, Wenner said. Now, it has changed venues
and target audience for a more family-friendly atmosphere.
“It evolved into a Fun Fest for kids,” Wenner said.
The Fun Fest in its current form is going on three years.
“This year it has really, really grown,” Wenner said. “There’s a
lot more participation from the community.”
Several entities will take part, including WIC, a dietitian,
Bradford City Police, students from the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford, Bradford Area Education Association and the Bradford City
Fire Department.
There will also be games for the children to play.
“Whether they win or not, they will get a prize,” Wallace
said.
There will also be pizza, popcorn, snow cones and nachos with
cheese for sale. Children will be given drinks for free; coffee,
cider and doughnuts will also be free.
There will be a parade down Main Street from 12:30 to 1:30
p.m.
The winners of the scarecrow contest will be announced at 2
p.m.
Main Street Manager Diane DeWalt said this is the fifth year for
the scarecrow contest.
People will begin putting up their scarecrows on Main Street in
the morning. Judges, including Tom Seagren, will review the entries
from 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The deadline to sign up for the contest is Friday.
“We’ve had a pretty good response,” DeWalt said. “But we can
always use more.”
Prizes will be awarded by age group.
Both Wenner and Wallace said the Fun Fest focuses on providing a
safe environment for children to enjoy Halloween festivities.
Last year, 350 children participated, Wenner said. This year,
they are preparing for between 450 and 500 children.
“There will be something for everybody,” Wenner said.
There will also be a First Aid table and petting zoo courtesy of
the McKean County SPCA.
A bake sale and auction will feature baklava and pies as well as
other items.
“Kids look forward to it every year,” Wenner said. “The
community is very, very generous.”
There’s also something for those into fitness rather than
fright.
Wallace said there will be a Named Fund Honorary and Memorial
Walk at the Richard E. McDowell Community Trail near the University
of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Registration starts at 9 a.m.
Wallace explained that in the past, families have raised money
for various funds by themselves. This year, they thought they would
“formalize the walk” so people could raise their funds on one day
if they wanted to.
“We welcome participation from the community,” Wallace said.
Officials will give away water to those who participate in the
walk.
There are a couple different funds – unrestricted and
restricted.
Unrestricted funds can go to any program at BRMC; restricted
funds are earmarked for certain programs.
A complete list of the funds is on the back of the registration
form.
Wenner said that since this is the first year for the event,
they are not sure how many people will participate. They are hoping
for 20 to 30.
