Harvest celebrations abound

With autumn settling in and harvest over, Windsor residents will
have a cornucopia of events to keep them entertained throughout the
month of October.
On Saturday, October 16, the Windsor Unified School District
will kick off its annual scarecrow contest on the Town Green.
Schools, classrooms, clubs, community groups and businesses will be
building scarecrows downtown between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Windsor
Superintendent Steve Herrington said the event has grown from six
scarecrows to more than 26 this year and other communities have
used it as inspiration for their own harvest celebrations. “It is
an activity that brings families and groups together while they
build their scarecrows. It helps decorate the Town for the Fall
Season,” said Herrington.
Following the Scarecrow contest, David’s Hot Dogs on The Green
will host a Canine Costume Party on Saturday October 16. Dogs that
are 15 inches tall or smaller are welcome to participate in the
fun. The party is from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at 716 McClelland Drive.
ARTrails, an open studio event taking place in about 150
locations around Sonoma County continues through October 16 and 17
as local artists open their studios to the public. The ARTrails
program is a self-directed tour with visitors able to pick and
choose who they see from a county-wide list. Organizers said the
freedom to choose who and when to visit helps participants tailor
their experience to their own personal taste. Visitors can choose
to see a wide spectrum of artists, focus on a particular medium or
filter their choices by geographic location.
The following Sunday, October 24, the Windsor Certified Farmers’
Market will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The day will start early with the Kiwanis serving a pancake
breakfast from 8:30 a.m. -1 p.m. (see below for more details).
The market fun begins at 10 a.m. with the Biggest Pumpkin
Contest. Entries can be brought to the market from 8:30 a.m. – 10
a.m. for the weigh-in. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded at 10
a.m.
Also returning this year will be the popular “Pumpkin Bowling
Alley” with real pins set up at the market. Residents young and old
can see if their pumpkin can knock down all the pins. Jubilee
Jumps, Ooops the Clown, and the Wizard of Oz Scarecrow will provide
fun entertainment for the kids.
The Gateway 4-H will host face painting. A scarecrow building
station will also be available. Painted pumpkins and scarecrows can
be taken home.
Live music will provide foot stomping leadership for the day
beginning at 11 a.m. with “The Parade of the Pumpkin Desserts.”
Kids and adults can join in the parade in their Halloween costumes.
Led by the Mighty Chiplings Band, the Windsor High School Culinary
Arts Department and local restaurants will parade their desserts
across the Town Green, into the farmers market and end in the
bosque, where they will serve their desserts.
A six foot pumpkin pie will be served at noon and money raised
from this event will benefit the Windsor High School Culinary Arts
Program. Pumpkin car races, a pumpkin patch and hay maze will also
be on site.
Rain or shine, the festival will go on. For more information
visit www.windsorfarmersmarket.com
or call 838-1320.
The Kiwanis Club of Windsor will hold its annual Pumpkin Pancake
Breakfast in conjunction with the Windsor Farmer’s Market and
Pumpkin Festival on the Windsor Town Green on Sunday, October 24
from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The menu will include pumpkin
pancakes, ham, fruit, juice, coffee, and tea. The cost of the
breakfast is $8 for 8 years old and up, $4 for under 8 years, and
free for those under 4. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to
the Windsor Kiwanis’ charitable activities, including its annual
college scholarships for Windsor High School graduates. Learn more
at http://www.kiwaniswindsor.org.
On Friday, October 29 Mattie Washburn and Windsor Creek
elementary schools will organize a costume parade for parents and
family members of students.
The next day, Saturday, October 30, Windsor Creek will also host
its annual Halloween carnival. The entire Windsor community is
invited to attend for games, cakewalk, food and entertainment.
Individual classrooms will be hosting games and money raised at
each booth will support the organizing classroom or organization.
The carnival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Windsor Lions Club will be providing a safe trick-or-treat
experience for local children on October 31. Families are invited
to meet in the Raley’s parking lot at 6 p.m. for a Halloween parade
featuring free candy for kids. The parade will end at the Windsor
Community Center for free hot dogs and soda.