Haleyville Fall Festival taking place on Halloween this year

HALEYVILLE - Deadlines are creeping up for businesses, churches, organizations and volunteers to have a booth or display at the City of Haleyville’s annual Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 31, which has expanded this year to include even more tricks, treats and a few frights.
Those who would like to have a booth or display at the festival need to contact Haley Smith at the Haleyville Police Department at (205) 486-2427.  The deadline to get a booth or display will be Friday, October 23, emphasized City Clerk Christy Harbin, who is helping to organize the festival.
The festival will be from 3-5 p.m. at the downtown Heart of Haleyville Pocket Park area, with a haunted alleyway open between  3-10 p.m., and a historical walk beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street, which will include stops at historical sites on a hayride.
“This is a completely free event,” Harbin explained. “Anyone who wants to volunteer to hand out candy, they are welcome.”

City departments participating in booth contest

“Each city department will have its own booth,” Harbin added. “We are doing a friendly competition among the departments. Each department is coming up with its own theme.”
At each city department’s  booth, there will be a QR code the public can scan in order to vote on their choice of most original or best decorated booth.
“You only get one vote per person,” Harbin emphasized. 
After the festival, the city will present an award to the city department with the best booth, she added.
“I know city hall’s theme, but each department is keeping their theme a secret,” Harbin said. 
“Not only does it bring the employees in each department together to work together, it brings the city employees together as a whole to have a good time,” Harbin pointed out.

Haunted alleyway expanded this year

As children will be going among the different booths to gather candy, a haunted alleyway will be open throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours, organizers said.

Last year, the haunted alleyway - located in a space between two buildings on Main Street - was a huge success, so the attraction has been expanded this year, Harbin said.
“Our police department is working to build that for us,” she stated. “It’s going to be twice the size that is was last year.”
Those ages 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult on the haunted alleyway this year,  organizers emphasized.
“Parentsneed to make sure their children are old enough to participate,” Harbin said.

Costume contest, hayrides

Fom 3-5 p.m., there will be a costume contest, with winners announced around 5 p.m. from the pocket park stage, according to organizers.
A deejay will be providing music from the stage throughout the festival from 3-5 p.m, they added.
A hayride through town will be provided from 3-5 p.m. by Steve Bryant, who is also providing the hayride for the historical walk from 6:30-8 p.m., organizers said.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” to be screened

After the festival ends, children are invited to gather once again at the pocket park at 6:20 p.m., for the showing of the classic cartoon, ”It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”  on a screen using a projector, thanks to local resident Paul Unger, Harbin stated.

Historical walk, hayride after festival

The historical walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street ,with some local residents dressed as historical characters from the city’s history, who will take the public on a stroll down the street to see some historical buildings and hear about their history.
The historical hayride, provided by Bryant, can be boarded in front of the Downtown Exchange or former Feldman’s Department Store.
Business owner Cherie Sibley has invited those taking the tour to go upstairs and visit a room of Haleyville history and historical artifacts, then board the  hayride for a tour of other historical sites in the downtown area.