The 34th annual De Soto Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, and will offer fun for people of all ages.
About 100 vendors will be on hand, and activities will be held along Main Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with music until 6 p.m., said Sarah Greenlee, office coordinator for the De Soto Chamber of Commerce.
She said Trucks, Tracks and Kodak Moments is a new addition this year. The event will be held near the plaza from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing youngsters a chance to get up close to large vehicles and take photos of them. The vehicles will include a dump truck, skid loader, backhoe, race car, school bus, snowplow and monster truck. The first 150 children will receive a free hard hat.
A jazz quintet called Shukazzii will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the stage near First State Community Bank in the plaza. The Blackwell Station band, which plays a variety of country, rock and southern rock, will perform on the main stage at Boyd and Main streets from 2-6 p.m.
Greenlee said there may be other performances throughout the day.
Anyone who comes hungry to the festival will have plenty of food, drink and dessert options. Restaurants along Main Street will be open, plus 15 food and drink trucks will be selling their products. In addition, a beer tent and a wine tasting will be part of the festivities, Greenlee said.
A car, truck and bike show, sponsored by Arlington Event Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street at the plaza. Participants should enter from Fletcher Street.
Registration will be from 9-10 a.m., with awards at 2 p.m. The cost is $15 to register. For more information, call Jon at 636-337-6109.
Twin City Party Rentals will again provide inflatables for children, including obstacle courses, slides, battle joust and bounce houses. The cost for all-day play access will be $10 for a wristband, two for $15 or three for $20.
Greenlee said many of the vendors will offer activities, like crafts, face painting and interactive games.
Main Street shops will be open and the De Soto Farmers Market, 520 N. Main St., will be open until 2 p.m., with music by Emery Besher from 9-11 a.m.
Once again, dog owners and lovers will have plenty to do at the festival.
Tink’s Barkery and Pawtique, 508 N. Main St., will host a canine carnival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when there will be adoptable dogs, a scavenger hunt, treat tasting, an agility course and a pet food pantry.
Around the corner, U Dirty Dog Grooming Salon, 508 N. Main St., will host the annual pet contests, beginning at 10 a.m. for biggest dog; 10:15 a.m. for smallest dog; 10:30 a.m. for most unusual animal; 10:45 a.m. for canine hot dog-eating contest; 11 a.m. for costume contest and 11:15 a.m. for best trick.
“The contests start earlier this year,” Greenlee said.
The De Soto Chamber of Commerce will raise funds with a dunk tank and a Lucky Duck Contest on Main Street near Boyd Street. The cost for the dunk tank will be $5 for three chances or $10 for an automatic dunk.
“The annual dunk tank with local celebrities will include coaches, teachers and administration,” she said. “We will have a fun lineup.”
For the Mueller Electric-sponsored duck contest, the Chamber will sell pre-numbered ducks and at 3:30 p.m., three numbers will be drawn for prizes. The first-place winner will receive $200; second place is $100 and third place is $50.
Greenlee said the duck contest costs $1 per chance, $5 for six chances, $10 for 12 chances or $20 for 25 chances. Cash or Venmo will be accepted.
The fall festival is the De Soto Chamber of Commerce’s biggest fundraising event. Proceeds go to help fund chamber activities throughout the year.