Mason City Fall Festival this weekend

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[September 16, 2022]    The Mason City Fall Festival is just around the corner, and with events running all weekend, there should be something for everyone!

Starting on Friday, September 16 the carnival opens at 4 p.m., and vendor booths open at 5 p.m. Under the tent near the intersection of Elm and Tonica Streets, there will be bingo 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bingo cards will be sold with players able to purchase as many as they wish. At 7 p.m., bingo will have a brief intermission for the festival queen crowning at the stage directly across the street from the bingo tent.

On Saturday, September 17th, the "Throwback to the 70's: Celebrating 50 Years of Fall Festivals" parade will start at 10 a.m., beginning at Illini Central School. The route will head down Pine Street, turn South on Main Street, and end at Memorial Park. The car show will follow the parade, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.; please call 217-482-3294 or email reimaginemasoncity@gmail.com to register. Vendor booths and carnival rides will open at 11 a.m. Happening at noon is the Little Prince & Princess crowning at the stage on S. Tonica Street. Also happening at noon, Vintage Restorations will have its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 109 W. Elm Street. The talent show takes over the main stage from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the night will end with a live performance from Central Illinois band “The Brat Pack” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Responsible drinking is strongly encouraged; if anyone would like to bring their adult beverages outside during the fest, they may do so if wearing a wristband purchased from any of the downtown bars. The band must be visible on your wrist, and all funds generated by their sale go toward the fall festival. Beverage wristbands are only valid during festival hours (4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday).

Ride wristbands are available as well, being sold in advance at the IGA in Mason City, or at the Festival itself once presales end on Thursday. The ride wristbands are good for one day only and can be redeemed for use on either Friday or Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Arlee Theater will be open as a cooling center during the festival, playing old (mostly silent) films from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please, enjoying the opportunity to come inside, cool off and sit for a spell before going back outside to enjoy all the festival has to offer. Films featured are dated from 1893 - 1940s.

See the separate news release from the Arlee. You may also wish to visit Arlee’s website or its box office window for show schedule the day of the event.

Should anyone have any festival questions, please reach out directly to the Fall Festival president, Tiara Thomas: 217-737-1153.

Fall Festival Brief Schedule:

Friday
4 p.m. - Carnival Opens
5 p.m. - Vendor Booths Open
6-8 p.m. - Bingo
7 p.m. - Queen Crowning

Saturday
10 a.m. - Parade
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Car Show
11 a.m. - Vendor Booths & Carnival Rides open
Noon - Vintage Restorations Grand Opening
Noon - Little Prince & Princess Crowning
1-7 p.m. - Free Vintage Movies at Arlee
3-5 p.m. - Talent Show
5-7 p.m. - The Brat Pack (live music)

[Marcia Maxson Schwartz] 

 

 

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