Rochester's October Festival Is Just Around The Corner

Apple Pie, Cider, Bikes and Cajun Zydeco At October Festival, Oct 10th 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers at Rochester Main Street are busy preparing for the seventh annual October Festival to be held on Saturday, October 10th from 11 am until 4 pm in the heart of downtown. This year’s event, underwritten by Service Credit Union, will be held on Hanson Street, and in Central Square. As part of the celebration, the main stage on Hanson Street will feature entertainment throughout the day with headliners Captain Fiddle and the Crawdad Wranglers Cajun Zydeco Band, 11-1, then dance company demonstrations, and other performances. This family fun event offers food, fun, games, demonstrations, and an interactive Barnyard Petting Zoo courtesy of Holy Rosary Credit Union. Rochester Main Street will host a “Mile High Apple Pie” baking contest, and all entries must be delivered to the Rochester Main Street booth no later than 10:30am  for judging. The winner will receive a medal and $25 cash prize.   

The Monarch School of New England is hosting a Charity Bike/Walk & Rodeo. Registration begins at the Rochester Community Center and course opens at 8:30 am for a 4 mile Family Ride or 15 or 25 mile Challenge Ride.   Save money and pre-register online for just $25 at www.monarchschoolcharitybikeride.com. You may also view the course maps online. Following the ride the participants are welcome downtown to enjoy the October Festival and refreshments. The Rochester historical Museum will be open that day with an exhibit in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and in honor of the enduring contributions made by people in the 1940s, the Rochester Historical Society Museum’s current display focuses on Rochester during the 1940s, the decade dominated by the Second World War.  They have some wonderful
photographs of Rochester people in the 1940s, as well as interesting artifacts from the decade.


Again this year, volunteers are also offering a raffle to help cover costs of downtown events. First prize is a $500 Downtown Dining and Shopping Spree, second prize is a $250, Downtown Dining and Shopping Spree and third place is a $100 Downtown Dining and Shopping Spree .  Tickets are just $2 each or $10 for a book of six tickets. Tickets may be purchased from any Main Street volunteer, Board Members, at Studley’s Flower Gardens, Jetpack Comics, Rochester Chamber of Commerce or through the Rochester Main Street Office.  Downtown businesses are encouraged to bring an activity or sales onto the sidewalk in front of their business during the October Festival hours. This is one of the few times each year they are permitted to do so as Main Street obtains a permit allowing sidewalk displays and sales during the event. We ask that Businesses planning an activity or sales contact the Main Street office so that we may advertise your activity. There is no charge to host an activity or display in front of your business that day.  

Children’s games at 2:00pm are courtesy of Hervey’s Tire and feature a donut eating contest and a ‘squashed” pie eating contest. The volunteers are still seeking arts and craft booths and organizations who are interested in participating that day. Vendors must pre-register to reserve a space. All vendors pay a $50 fee which goes towards the cost of producing the event. Vendor forms with the rules are available on line at www.rochestermainstreet.org under About Us/Forms and Reports.  Volunteers are also needed to help run the event that day. For more information on October Festival or to sign up to participate, please contact the Rochester Main Street Office at 603-330-3208 or email director@rochestermainstreet.org. The contact number the day of the event is 603-781-7116.   October Festival is a rain/shine event.