The official opening of Main Street will be combined with the second annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 27 for a ghoulish send-up to a summer of construction.
A barbecue to celebrate Innisfail's fresh look will lead into an evening of trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. Pumpkin Festival tractor races will be held outdoors, while a haunted house and a carnival will be held indoors.
“I think it's awesome,” said Coun. Mark Kembell, referring to the idea of a Halloween ribbon-cutting combo. “It kicks off Main Street.”
The town agreed to close 50 Street from Fas Gas to Scotiabank and 50 Avenue from 20/20 Auto to the post office at their Sept. 24 regular council meeting. They also decided to supply 10 lighted barricades, five detour signs and four garbage cans to make the ghoulish event a reality.
“It's something else fun for the community to join in,” said Deb Stoski, chair of the downtown association.
The festival will also include a baking contest in the morning, which will make the offerings at the barbecue that much sweeter.
Stoski encourages Innisfailians to dress up for the barbecue.
The town agreed to work out a deal with Co-op to supply food for the event.
The Olds radio station will attend, hopefully attracting out-of-towners.
Coun. Jason Heistad said his family had fun at the initial Pumpkin Festival last year, and noted they managed to inspire some scares.
“I was impressed,” he said. “My youngest daughter said those guys on the tractors were really scary.”
Stoski said the event will provide an opportunity for businesses to encourage attendees to become return customers and noted it will be a family-friendly affair, ending early.
“We do want it over at 9 o'clock again this year,” she said. “That was nice.”
"It's something else fun for the community to join in."Deb StoskiDowntown association chair
