Cathy May, Contributing Writer

On October 26 and 27 there will be a Fall Fest in Osgood. It is sponsored by the Osgood Merchants Association.

On Friday night, October 26 there will be a Masquerade Parade sponsored by the Card and Gift Gallery. Children are asked to line up at the Osgood Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. They will march down to the free stage set up on O&M Avenue where they will be judged in different categories. After the contest, Stacey and the Wildcats will perform on the stage until 10:00 p.m. Taylor’s Tae Kwon Do will have demonstrations at the mini-park starting at 6:00 p.m. (If raining they will be inside the academy).

Vendors, booths and shops will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Activities will start off with a pumpkin decorating contest at 10:00 a.m. at the Osgood mini-park. (If it rains, it will be held in the basement of the Osgood Public Library). Anyone who would like to decorate a pumpkin can do so, no matter what age. It can be a family project, group, children, or adults who enter. You can paint the pumpkin or carve it. Other options might be to clothe it, or cover it with sequins. There will be cash prizes. This event is sponsored by the Osgood Area Kiwanis Club.

A Chili Cook-Off sponsored by the Osgood Beautification Committee will start at 2:00 p.m. in the mini-park and end at 5:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop by and sample the chili. Vote for a penny for your favorite chili. First place will be awarded $75 and second place $50. It is limited to only 30 entries.

Entertainment on the free stage will begin at 4:00 p.m. with Rhythm and Groove. Centerline takes the stage from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. A Cruise-In will take place from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on the downtown streets and trophies will be awarded. The Ripley County Humane Society will sponsor Strut Your Mutt during the festivities. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing.

The Osgood Merchants Association has worked to get help from a lot of different groups to put on the event. President Janine Ostendorf said, “We want to thank everyone who has helped to make this Fall Fest a success: the Town of Osgood, Osgood Lions Club, Osgood Area Kiwanis, Osgood Beautification Committee, Task Unit, the Osgood Volunteer Fire Department, and all the members of the Osgood Merchants Association. We’re ready. Now all we have to do is pray for good weather.”