Fall Festival sees record crowd

East Fork Gallery’s annual Scarecrow Festival held for over 35 years saw what may have been its biggest turn out in the history of the event.

Main Street Gardnerville Jen Tune said Heritage Park was well attended from the beginning to end of the event.

“We had a record crowd,” said Tune. “It was packed from the time it started and just kept going. We even ran out of food by 1:30 p.m.”

Main Street Gardnerville hosts the Fall Festival Slaughterhouse Lane Coffin Races during the event, in which businesses and organizations build a coffin and put it to the test.

There were seven teams this year, and two newcomers.

New this year was Douglas County Parks and Recreation with their coffin and team “The Recking Crew,” and the Clampers.

The Recking Crew made to the finals nearly beating three-time winners Main Street Gardnerville and the Clampers won the “crappiest coffin” award, while Stor All won best coffin.

Local performance groups Dance workshop, All About Dance, Northwest Martial Arts, and CBP Aerial Arts performed throughout the event and Monique De Haviland organized the lineup of music by local musicians.

Dance Workshop won best costumes.

The artists from East Fork Gallery were available to help participants build their scarecrows.

“The Scarecrow Festival is a favorite of Carson Valley during this time of year, often attended by repeat scarecrow makers and generations of families returning to carry on the tradition as well as new attendees,” said the artists during the event.

There was hayrides provided by Dwight and Diana Borges and Grandpa Archie’s Haunted Maze was set up for attendees to enter if they dared.

The maze was provided by retired Sheriff’s Capt. Joe Duffy, who said Fright at the Fairgrounds as well as Safety Street is on hiatus for this Halloween.

“It was just not something we could do this year,” he said. “But we do hope to bring it back next year, bigger and better.”

Duffy said in replacement of Safety Street, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will host a Trunk or Treat in the parking lot 3-8 p.m. Oct. 31.