Fall Fest promises full day of family fun in Coal City

Coal City will welcome the arrival of autumn with a full day of entertainment, activities, food and community celebration when the village hosts its Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The festival will run from 3 to 11 p.m. with activities spread throughout the downtown area. Organizers are billing the event as “a day & night of fun for the whole family,” with a car show, Touch-A-Truck, inflatables, food vendors, a makers court, live entertainment and a nighttime laser light show among the attractions.
The festivities actually get an early start Friday evening with a customer appreciation night at Bob’s Advanced Auto & Tire, 60 E. Chestnut St. Beginning at 6 p.m., the kickoff will feature live music along with food and drinks.
On Saturday, the Fall Fest car show will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. along South Broadway. Vehicles can begin lining up at 2 p.m.
Touch-A-Truck will also run from 3 to 6 p.m. on Center Street, giving children a chance to get an up-close look at large vehicles and equipment.
Several children's attractions will be set up at Campbell Park, including inflatables, games and face painting. Just south of the railroad tracks will feature a dunk tank, Joust and Hungry Hippos and other activities.
Food will be plentiful throughout the festival grounds. The map provided by organizers in this edition shows food vendors including Maricela’s Tacos, Lil Deb’s Food Truck and BBQ & Baker. Other offerings include Lemon Shake Ups, kettle corn, beef sandwiches and sundaes from the Methodist Church, turkey poor boys at the Campbell Park concessions by the Presbyterian Church, Boy Scout brats and Cub Scout candy apples.
The Makers Court will be located near the Coaler Corner area next to the post office, while additional vendors and attractions will be scattered throughout the downtown festival grounds. The village has also designated parking areas, including handicap parking near Village Hall. A map on page 2 of the Fall Fest flyer provides the locations of activities, food vendors, parking and restroom facilities.
Community recognition will be part of the celebration as well. The Community Service Award winner will be recognized at 5 p.m. in front pf Babe’s Tap.
At 6 p.m., participants will take off for the Megan Bugg 5K Walk/Run. The event honors the late Coal City resident whose battle with childhood cancer inspired the Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Laboratory at Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute. The race course and starting area will be south of the tracks on Broadway St.
Music will take over Saturday night, with live entertainment scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m. Who Dat Dere Band will perform from 7 to 11 p.m.
One of the night's biggest visual attractions will come at 9:30 p.m. when a laser light show illuminates downtown Coal City near Bob’s Advanced Auto & Tire.
The Fall Fest layout also includes Lions Club beer tents, restroom and hand-washing stations and parking locations throughout the festival area.
With activities stretching from Friday night's kickoff through late Saturday evening, village organizers are inviting residents to “come for the fun, stay for the memories” as Coal City celebrates the community and the beginning of the fall season.