(Town of Penhold Facebook)

By Alessia Proietti

September 9-10

Penhold’s Fall Festival returns this weekend with even more activities

Sep 7, 2022 | 1:53 PM

Did you know that at the town of Penhold’s Fall Festival, parade participants can throw candy to the audience?

“The parade is always jam-full. We are one of the only communities around that you’re allowed to throw candy if you’re in the parade. If you’re a kid walking, you get to load up a bag full of treats and we’ve got a ton of nice floats,” said Mayor Mike Yargeau. “It was a surprise to me when I would go to parades in other communities that you weren’t allowed to throw candy.”

The family-friendly Festival is returning this year with even more activities from September 9-10, held outdoors at the Multiplex (#1 Waskasoo Ave.).

The event will kick off Friday at 6 p.m. with the first ever Mayor Mike’s Mini Marathon for a Cause. With a $25 entry fee, funds raised from the 0.5 km marathon will be donated to the Penhold Elementary School Parent Advisory Council to support their efforts in building a new playground. A Golden Mini Doughnuts Hydration Station will be placed at the midway marker along with a Retro Costume Contest for participants.

READ: Penhold Fall Festival to feature new Mayor’s Mini Marathon

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The entry fee also covers admission to the Craft Beer, Wine & Spirits Festival where over 20 local breweries, wineries and distilleries will be serving tasting samples of their products.

All the while, food trucks will be available alongside family skating and the Ma & Pa’s Bakery Café Fall Festival Show & Shine with prizes awarded to Fan Favourite, Most Unique and Oldest Vehicle.

Saturday will begin at 8 a.m. with a Community TIES Pancake Breakfast held at Memorial Hall. For $5 for adults and $3 for kids, locals will be ready for the parade at 11 a.m.

With this year’s theme of “Strong Hearts Building Strong Communities”, the parade will start at Jessie Duncan School and be led by resident Logan Windebank as Honourary Parade Marshal, the inaugural winner of the Mayor’s Youth Recognition Award. Prizes will be awarded for Best Commercial Entry, Best Community Group / Personal entry and Judges Choice.

READ: Penhold names winner of Mayor’s Youth Award

Penhold Fall Festival Parade Route (Town of Penhold)

The parade will be followed by a series of activities held at the Multiplex from 1 – 5 p.m., including magician shows, Centrefest Circus World Activities, cookie decorating, pie eating contests, axe throwing, a petting zoo, and many more.

With an Outdoor Vendor Market present at the Multiplex, a barbeque will also be available at the Penhold Museum (100 Edmonton Trail).

The Fall Festival will close with fireworks at 9 p.m.

“The kids are back in school now, the weather is starting to turn a little bit, we only have a few nice weekends left and the weather for this weekend is looking great. It’s a great way to sort-of end your summer off and look forward to the year to come,” said the mayor.

Mayor Yargeau explained the festival began roughly 10 years ago after the town decided to replace the Penhold Days in July with a new event for residents held during a different season compared to other community festivals.

He says it takes the festival committee and other volunteers one year to plan the “big summertime blowout”.

“It’s something residents look forward to. As soon as I talk to people all throughout the year, they’re asking about the Fall Festival; what are we going to be doing next year, what new events are we going to have? The whole town is excited. We get thousands of people that show up to this from Penhold and the surrounding area,” he said.

Apart from the marathon, Craft Beer, Wine & Spirits Festival, and the pancake breakfast, all activities are free to the public.