FORTVILLE — More options to buy food nearby. More wares to browse, including vendor booths. More opportunities for people to connect with organizations that serve the community.
Organizers of the annual Treats on Main and FARM Community Fair have responded to feedback and made adjustments to the event that drew an estimated 3,000 people to downtown Fortville in 2021.
That was the first year two events came together as one big fall event. One piece was the downtown merchants’ treats event, which had for several years invited children to visit businesses along Fortville’s Main Street for trick-or-treating. The other piece was FARM’s community fair, which highlights groups that can offer various types of help to people in need or volunteer opportunities for people looking to give back.
FARM (Fortville Area Resource Mission) retooled the resource fairs it had conducted in the past. In 2021 it invited churches, ministries and other non-profits to set up a booth, offering a treat and/or carnival-style game.
“They all had really good responses,” said Lisa Reynolds, director of FARM. “Some found volunteers and other aspects of engagement” with people in the community, she said.
The turnout was also good for the business community, said Libby Wyatt, a downtown business owner and Fortville Town Council member. “The merchants said they never had so many people on a Saturday that wasn’t during the holiday season,” she said.
This year’s event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29, will again feature a costume contest, live music, treats, and game/information booths by churches and organizations.
This year, downtown restaurants will offer food options for purchase by festivalgoers, such as pizza by the slice or burgers and hotdogs. “That was one of the biggest requests last year,” Reynolds said. Fortville Action Inc. will set up a patio area with tables and lighting.
Craft vendors have also been added to this year’s event — “to maybe get more people down there,” said Kelly Griffey, board member of FARM. The road closure on Main Street will extend farther north this year, to Church Street. Booth space rentals will support the mission of FARM, which operates a food pantry and seeks to meet other needs in the community.
Other attractions include a fire truck for children to see, hayrides, a barrel train ride, and photo opps with antique tractors and trucks. Fortville police will have little pumpkins for children to decorate and take home.
Organizers said there was good feedback on the 2021 event and they want to build on that.
“When I went back to the town council for approval” for this year’s event, Griffey said, “they thought it was a great family event.”
“It’s fun. It’s one of my favorite days,” Wyatt said. “It’s fun just to sit and watch all the kids.”
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A variety of churches and ministries have events planned this fall. Here’s where to find the fun:
Oct. 22
Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival, 5-7 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 1741 S. State St. It will include games and bounce houses.
Oct. 28
Fall Festival, 5:30-8 p.m. at Wilkinson Church of Christ, 7293 N. State Road 109, Wilkinson. Includes games, food, bounce house, and outdoor movie at 7 (bring chairs and blanket for movie). Information: Email [email protected].
Trunk ‘n Treat, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia campus of Mt. Comfort Church, 2265 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield.
Oct. 29
Treats on Main and FARM Community Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Fortville. Information: fortvillearearesourcemission.org.
Harvest Hoedown, 2-4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Brookville Road Community Church, 7480 W. U.S. 52, New Palestine. Features candy giveaways, games, inflatables, a costume contest and more. Families should enter the main entrance, where they’ll receive a map and be directed to the church’s backyard. Information: Email [email protected].
Trunk or Treat, 2-4 p.m. at Bradley United Methodist Church, 210 W. Main St., Greenfield. Information: bradleyumc.org.
Fall Festival, 4-7 p.m. at New Life Church, 501 N. Buck Creek Road, Cumberland. Features food, games, roasted marshmallows, prizes, candy, bounce houses and hayrides. Information: connect2newlife.org.
Fall Fest, 5-7 p.m. at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church, 994 N. County Road 600E, Greenfield. This family event will be open to the community and will feature bounce houses, hayrides, trunks with candy, hotdogs, face painting and more. Information: brownschapel.com
Oct. 30
Town of McCordsville Trunk or Treat, 3-5 p.m. at Outlook Christian Church, 6531 N. County Road 600W, McCordsville. Families, groups or businesses wanting to participate as a trunk to hand out treats can email [email protected] for a registration form.
Trunk or Treat, 4-6:30 p.m. at Fortville Church of the Nazarene, 701 S. Maple St., Fortville. Features treats outside from decorated vehicles, and warm soups and drinks such as hot chocolate and cider inside in the family center. Information: fortvillenazarene.org.
Oct. 31
Trunk or Treat, 5-7 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 7879 Carroll Road, McCordsville. Information: Email [email protected].
Trunk or Treat, 6:30-8 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 1450 W. Main St., Greenfield.
