Pilot Grove hosting Harvest Festival

Crafts, pumpkins, cars and ugly trucks will fill downtown Pilot Grove on Saturday during the city’s annual Harvest Festival.

Brenda Bader, of Pilot Grove, started the festival five years ago.

“It was my intention to try and draw more people from out of town to Pilot Grove,” Bader said.

Events begin at 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies.

Registration for the Most Adorable Baby Contest will be held from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and the contest will begin at 10 a.m. Boys and girls will compete in four age divisions ranging from infants to three-year-olds.

The pedal pull will be held at 11 a.m. near Citizens Community Bank. Prizes will be awarded in each of the four classes.

One of the most attended events each year is the car and motorcycle show, Bader said. The show is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features 23 classes including an ugly truck class. Classic music will play and door prizes will be given away throughout the show.

Terry Streit, festival committee chair, said all events will take place on Main Street in downtown.

“It’s just a way to promote our community and we have something for all ages,” Streit said.

Activities for children will include pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo, games and prizes. Carriage rides through Pilot Grove will be offered during the day and people can tour the old jail house for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We try to have something for everyone to enjoy and it’s a fun time,” Streit said.

More than 40 craft and food vendors will be set up along Main Street.

New to this year’s activities is a karaoke contest taking place at the harvest stage.

“Every year we try different things,” Streit said.

Registration for the contest will held from 9 to 10:45 a.m. The preliminaries will begin at 11 a.m. and the finals will be held at 3:30 p.m. There is no entry fee for the contest.

Other activities planned include a pie baking contest and pie auction and washer board tournament.

“It’s a very inexpensive day to spend outside,” Bader said.

Any funds collected during the day festival are used to pay for festival fees and remaining money is donated to the community for various projects, Streit said.

“I think it’s a really nice family activity to do,” Bader said.

For more information about the festival visit pilotgrovefestival.com.

If you go
What: Pilot Grove Harvest Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Downtown Pilot Grove
Cost: Free