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Waynesville Mail

Atlanta Fall Festval

The Atlanta Fall Festival ran from September 9th-12th at the park. The festival is an annual event for all ages because it has many different activities to enjoy, including a parade, karaoke contest, rides, vendors, inflatables, games, food, bingo, and live music! 

Thursday there was an amazing Italian beef dinner, music by the Pickled Beats, and inflatables. Usually, the festival has carnival rides, but this year they replaced most rides with free inflatables and carnival games. The inflatables were a huge success. Numerous food trucks also delighted the visitors with traditional fair food.

On Friday, many people delighted in the pork chop dinner that was sponsored by the Atlanta Fire Department. The prince and princess contest was a lighthearted pageant where children ages three to five competed to win a crown or baseball cap. The host asked the four contestants many questions about their home life, school, and hobbies, and the child with the best answers won. All of the contestants went home with a bag full of “goodies.” Sundown Band finished up the night with entertainment.

Saturday was the main event for many festivalgoers. Adults and children alike whipped up their baking masterpieces and dropped them off to be judged. There were three categories for adults: cupcakes, pies, and cookies, and two for children: quick breads and cookies. Early in the afternoon people lined up on the streets to watch the parade, where many local businesses, non-profit organizations, and locals decorated a float, car, bike, or dressed up in a costume. This year’s theme was “Atlanta; Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” We got to see the creativity of the town showcased at the parade and it was definitely a sight to see! Later on, the Community Band played, and children got to compete in the kiddie tractor pull. After that, crowds got to indulge in the musical talents of karaoke contestants. The karaoke competition is a yearly event at the festival, with large, cash prizes for the winners. The night concluded with the auctioning of the baked goods and announcing the winners of the merchant drawings. 

After a long weekend of fun, there was a community worship service on Sunday. It was an amazing way to conclude the eventful festival. Until next year! 


Erin Dederich
Correspondent

Erin Dederich was a Mail Correspondent covering the Olympia communities from August 2021 until July 2022. She is from McLean, Illinois.