For a gourd-old time, head downtown to Fall Fest

Downtown Spokane is bringing autumn activities to the city during the second-annual Fall Fest.

“Fall is a beautiful time in the Northwest, and it’s a real kind of family time in the Northwest, as well,” said Elisabeth Hooker, marketing and programming director for Downtown Spokane.

“Spokane has a gem of an opportunity in Green Bluff,” but not all families can make it up there, she said. “We wanted to create that fall atmosphere here in the middle of downtown.”

One of the highlights of the event will be the urban pumpkin patch, Hooker said. Children ages 12 and younger will be able to pick out a pumpkin donated by Peirone Produce.

Then there will be a decorating station where children can gussy up their gourds. The pumpkin patch is a fundraiser for Second Harvest, with a suggested donation of $1 or a can of food per child.

The pumpkin patch will be on Wall Street, between Main Avenue and Spokane Falls Boulevard, as well a beer garden – “For parents who want to hang out and go to their own ‘beer patch’ while the kids are at the pumpkin patch,” Hooker said.

It’s a mobile beer garden, or “Wiesn in a Box,” sponsored by the Goethe-Institut. (After Fall Fest, the Wiesn in a Box will go to the German-American Society’s Oktoberfest celebration at 25 W. Third Ave.)

Other Fall Fast activities on Wall Street include a country carnival and live entertainment, including music and square dancing.

This year, Fall Fest is expanding to other downtown locations, too. At River Park Square, there will be a petting zoo, magic shows, face painting and children’s crafts. In Riverfront Park, there will be carriage rides, food vendors, a maze and a chalk art competition.

Hooker said she’s excited that there will be so many options for families at this year’s Fall Fest.

“It’s our goal to make downtown Spokane’s neighborhood,” she said. “We want it to be a gathering place for families.”

River Park Square

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Craft Patch with Mobius Kids, petting zoo, face painting

11 a.m.: Magician Dick Frost

Noon: DJ Unifest

1 p.m.: Radical Rick

2-5 p.m.: DJ Unifest

Wall Street

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Urban Pumpkin Patch, country carnival, beer garden

11 a.m.: Ray Badness

Noon: Back Porch Fiddlers

1 p.m.: Daniel Hall

2 p.m.: Spokane Area Square Dancers

4 p.m.: The Dapper Devils

Riverfront Park

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Chalk art contest, family photo spot, harvest chalk maze, food alley, sidewalk games

Noon-4 p.m.: Horse and carriage rides

2 p.m.: Back Porch Fiddlers