Chester Fall Festival is Oct. 15-17

By Chester Parks and Recreation

CHESTER — The City of Chester has a full schedule of events for the 2021 Fall Festival to be held October 15-17.

The weekend has an event, activity or competition that is sure to be of interest to everyone.

We are pleased to announce that American Banner Amusements will be here with carnival rides!

Pre-Sell tickets, $1 each or 24 tickets for $18, are available at City Hall until 3 pm, October, 14.

Ticket Booth prices are $1 each or 24 tickets for $20.

Rides will require 1-3 tickets depending on the ride.

Wristbands will be available Friday, October 15, 5-10 pm, $25 each, Saturday, October 16, 12-5 pm, $20 each (tickets only 5 pm – close), Sunday, October 17, 12-5 pm $20 each. Wristbands must be purchased at the ticket booth the day of use. Hours of operation for the rides: Friday, 5 pm-? Saturday, 12pm-? Sunday, 12-5 pm.

We have 40+ vendors signed up for the Craft and Vendor Sale.

Shoppers can expect to find crafts, blankets, koozies, wood crafts, women’s clothing, Scentsy, Watkins, candles, soaps, door mats, signs, antiques, porchboards, Mary Kay, Halloween costumes, Color Street, Tastefully Simple, flags, jewelry, knives, bath products, art and more.

Make sure to come hungry. We have 12+ Food Vendors. You will be able to find ice cream, ribeye sandwiches, grilled cheese, nachos, pulled pork, Italian beef, funnel cakes, fried pretzels, cotton candy, polish sausage, grilled pork sandwich, wings, bayou baskets, STL rib tips, fish, pork burger, curling fries, walking tacos, kettle corn pork rinds, caramel nachos and more! If you are thirsty you can purchase lemon-shake ups, frozen lemonade, coffee, shakes, soda, water, tea, Gatorade and beer on the festival grounds.

The weekend events will kick off on Friday with Cole Memorial Park hosting an evening of family fun activities.

A Zoo for You Petting Zoo, sponsored by the Employees of Gilster Mary-Lee Corporation and the Touch-A-Truck, sponsored by the City of Chester Employees are both free. Both events will be held 5-7 pm.

While there your family can enjoy the Chuckwagon Dinner. The meal will consist of a Rough and Tumble Burger, Cowboy Beans, Corn on the Cob, Saddle Bag Cake and a Drink. The meal is being prepared by Barb’s Bounty. Tickets are required. Tickets are $5 each and are available at City Hall. There will be a limited number of tickets available the day of. So get yours now.

Following all of the fun and food you can settle in for a relaxing, free, movie on the lawn. Pack your snacks and drinks and enjoy the supernatural comedy of Ghostbusters. This movie is free and Sponsored by the First Baptist Church Chester.

We are pleased to announce a Teen Street Dance, Friday, 7-10 pm. The music will be provided by Good Times Mobile DJ and was sponsored by them. This is a free event. The dance will be located on Swanwick Street, behind Chester Square Gazebo Park. If you don’t fall into that teen category you can enjoy the tunes of DJ Dick Fitzwell, provided by the Knights of Columbus, from 5-8 pm on the festival grounds.

Guess who is coming for a meet and greet?! Fredbird will be making his appearance Friday, 7-8 pm, near the Central Stand. Perfect photo opportunity! Fredbird is sponsored by Shawnee Trails Realty and the County Journal.

Friday evening’s main stage performers, 8 pm- midnight, are the OG’s Band. A five man band playing classic rock and electric blues with a few surprises along the way! They will be joined by DB Productions, LLC who will be providing the sound and lighting for this event. This band is anxious to perform at our event. They are all from the area and super excited to have DB Productions assisting them. This is an event you don’t want to miss! Call your friends!

Come visit your family! The perfect opportunity to check in with friends from near and far!

Individuals and families are invited to create a sidewalk masterpiece in our Chalk the Walk Competition on Saturday. Entries will be judged based on EXECUTION/USE OF MATERIALS, ORIGINALITY/CREATIVITY and OVERALL DESIGN.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories and age groups: BEST CHILDREN’S PIECE 5-9 YEARS, BEST CHILDREN’S PIECE 10-15 YEARS, BEST ADULT PIECE 16 AND ABOVE and BEST FAMILY PIECE (IMMEDIATE FAMILY). Get your creativity flowing, carve your Jack-O-Lanterns and bring them to the competition Saturday!

Our Carved Pumpkin Contest will be held Saturday with prizes awarded in the following: 10 YEARS & UNDER: SILLIEST JACK & MOST TRADITIONAL JACK 11-17 YEARS: SILLIEST JACK, MOST TRADITIONAL JACK & CREEPIEST JACK 18 AND OVER: SILLIEST JACK, MOST TRADITIONAL JACK, CREEPIEST JACK AND “GOOD GOURD JACK”

We didn’t forget about our vendors and marketers! We will be awarding a prize to the BEST FALL DECORATED BOOTH.

New this year the Great Pumpkin Street Drags and they are sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, Chester, IL. The Street Drags will feature Pumpkin Racers and Pumpkin Derby Racers battling in a unique side-by-side elimination race featuring handcrafted, decorated Pumpkin Racers and Derby Racers in a funky and hilarious display of racing fun! The entries in each division will battle head-to-head for the coveted trophy. We will also award a prize for the Best Decoration and the Most Innovative Design in all divisions.

PUMPKIN RACERS: made by using a single pumpkin or fall gourd and a pre-fabricated chassis of any kind (skateboard, stroller, Tonka truck, etc…)  4-7 years·  8-11 years·  12-15 years·  16 years to adult·  Family·

PUMPKIN DERBY RACERS: made from one pumpkin or fall gourd with independent axles with wheels attached.  5-8 years·  9-12 years·  13-15 years·  16 years to adult· Pumpkin Racers and Derby Racers come in all different shapes, sizes and speeds. Make it a family event and challenge your friends and neighbors.

Race time is 1 pm Saturday.

We are thrilled to announce the KID ZONE on Saturday, 10 am-2 pm on the parking lot across from St. Mary’s Church. This area will have inflatables, interactives and games. Silly Jilly the Balloon Artist, Sponsored by JT Blankenship, Inc., will create balloon creations for kids at the Kid Zone (1 per child). Heroes for Kids will be joining us at the Kid Zone. They are a group of volunteers that bring together costumed heroes, law enforcement, firefighters, and military to put smiles on the faces of kids and promote community relations. Heroes for Kids is Sponsored by Fisher, Kerkhover, Coffey and Gremmels Law Offices and Colvis Investment Services. Kid Zone Sponsors Golden Pumpkin Sponsors: Benson’s Wine Bar, First Baptist Church, Knight Hawk Coal, Plumbing Solutions, Incorporated, Rozier’s Country Market, Ace Hardware and Domino’s. Silver Gourd Sponsors: Manor At Craig Farms, Darrell and Teri Crum, State Farm Insurance , Paul Gentry, Buena Vista National Bank, Chester National Bank and Dieterich Bank. Bronze Squash Sponsors: Victor’s Medi Center Pharmacy and Chester Animal Hospital.

We are honored to have the newest member of the Popeye and Friends Character Trail unveiled during our Fall Festival, Saturday at 11 am. We invite you to join us for the unveiling at the corner of State and Taylor Streets. Near the Fisher, Kerkhover, Coffey and Gremmels Law Office). We will welcome Harold HamGravy, the original Thimble Theatre cast member and Olive Oyl’s long-time love interest, to our trail.

Another Saturday event is the Disc Golf Tournament at Cole Memorial Park. Bring your friends, bring your family and have a little good natured competition while having fun. The tournament is sponsored by Southern Illinois Substance Abuse Alliance. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place prize will be awarded in each of the following categories: 18 and Over, 17 and Under, 12 and Under. Dieterich Bank graciously donated water for the participants to enjoy during the tournament.

The Chester Volleyball Club will host a Co-Ed Sand Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at the Chester Eagles, starting at 11 am. Entry fee is $60.

The Chester Running Club and the St. Mary’s PTO Categories for 5K Run (Men & Women) and Categories for 5K Walk (Men & Women. The registration fee is $25 and includes a shirt. The St. Mary’s PTO will host a Car Show on Saturday at the Cole Memorial Park.

Registration is 9 am[1]noon and the entry fee is $10. There will be a food stand, a 50/50 raffle, attendance prizes and music will be provided by a DJ.

Breezy Hill RC Flyers will host a Fun Fly on Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 pm at the Breezy Hill Flying Field of the Cohen Complex. This is the perfect time to buddy fly a plane or learn all about the club and their activities.

Sam Higgerson will be our DJ for Saturday morning. He will be entertaining us with melodies of his choosing. Join us Saturday afternoon, 1-4 pm, when the Rowdy Wranglers String Band take the main stage with some bluegrass, old time country and rockabilly music. The Rowdy Wranglers are sponsored by Square One Flooring and JT Blankenship, Inc. The music just doesn’t stop! Country Singer Jesse James of Nashville, TN will take the stage 5:30-6:30 pm. Jesse has donated his performance to the Fall Festival. Saturday evening’s mainstage performers are Sojourn Rocs Band. Professional rock and country cover band. We will take you on a musical journey you won’t forget! The band will on stage 8 pm- midnight.

Sunday, October 17 brings us to the Fall Festival Parade .We have 35+ entries registered at this time. The parade will step off at 3 pm from Chester High School and make its way to the Randolph County Courthouse. Following the parade head to the Central Stand for a Meet and Greet with Disney Characters and Paw Patrol, Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and Good Ol’ Frosty! Sponsored by the City of Chester Parks and Recreation Committee. Join us at 5:30 pm when Master Magician Terry Richison takes the mainstage and astounds us.

And then there is this… Fallling Skies Pyrotechnics will light up the sky with our fireworks finale at approximately 8 pm. Don’t forget to get your 50/50 Raffle Tickets ($5 or 5 for $20) and your Fall Festival shirts, available in adult youth sizes ($25 long sleeve and $20 short sleeve). These are available at City Hall right now and will be available, while supplies last, at the Central Stand.

Attendance prize drawings Friday and Saturday. Tickets available at the Central Stand. We want to invite everyone to come and check out the festival. Bring your family and enjoy some family time. Come back with old friends and make some new ones.

For information please visit our website at www.chesterill.com , see us on Facebook @ Fall Fun in River City@chesterillinois, email us at chesterrecreation@chesterill.com or phone 618-826-1430.