BonnerSprings.com

It's gone through several changes over its 20-year existence, and in that respect this year is no different for the annual Edwardsville AutumnFest.

This year's festival will be held all day Saturday, Sept. 20, in the center of Edwardsville, and organizers are promising the event will be "bigger and better than anything before."

"The community looks forward to this one day a year," said Phyllis Freeman, Edwardsville city clerk and the event's senior organizer. "Each year we try to do something different for them. We do this for the community so they can enjoy this one day a year."

Freeman said one of the most exciting parts of this year's AutumnFest would be the return of the morning parade. Its absence last year was greatly felt, Freeman said, so people from the community stepped up to help with the organization process to make sure it wasn't missed again.

"The parade pretty much kicks off the whole day," she said. "There's no cost to get in it. Just come be in it whether you're a walking unit or a kid that decorated their bike, we'll let them come in. We just want everyone who wants in the parade to be recognized and we won't turn anyone away."

The parade participants will meet at 9 a.m. near Standard Motor, 845 Ninth St. The parade start at 10 a.m. and will head north on Ninth Street and take a left on Blake and curve along to Fourth Street before ending at Blake and Ninth streets.

Another draw to this year's festivities, Freeman said, are the four free concerts that are being presented throughout the afternoon on the north side of Mac's Place, 580 S. Fourth St. All of the bands - Mr. Fish, JD and the Groove Pilots, Flying Debris and Jessica Horn - each have at least one member who lived in the Edwardsville community at one point.

Each of these activities is a step in the right direction for the festival as a whole, Freeman said. When the event started 20 years ago, she said it was small and has been able to grow over the years. It's not quite to where Freeman envisions it yet, but she is optimistic about the future.

"Tiblow Days started around 30 years and has grown as (Bonner Springs) has grown," Freeman said. "That's what I'm hoping to see here. One day we may look at a two-day event. I feel like the community deserves it."

The schedule of the festival is as follows:

¢ 7:30 a.m., Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, Edwardsville Elementary, 1700 S. 104th St.

¢ 9 a.m., All-day craft sale, Edwardsville Plaza

¢ 10 a.m., Parade, starts at Ninth and Blake streets

¢ 11 a.m., Car Show, Edwardsville Plaza

¢ 11:30 a.m., Children's pumpkin decorating contest

¢ 12 p.m., free Mr. Fish concert, north side of Mac's Place

¢ 12:30 p.m., Pie and chili contest and barbecue contest judging, Community Center, 696 S. Third St.

¢ 1:303 p.m., free JD and the Groove Pilots concert, north side of Mac's Place

¢ 3-5 p.m., free Christian Music Ministries concert, Community Center

¢ 6-7 p.m., free Flying Debris concert, north side of Mac's Place

¢ 6 p.m., Bingo for all ages, Community Center

¢ 8-10:30 p.m., free Jessica Horn concert, north side of Mac's Place

For more information about AutumnFest, call City Hall at (913) 441-3707.

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