STATE CENTER — With spooky season upon us, the State Center Development Association is again hosting the annual Watson’s Fall Festival, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday. Attendees can enjoy shopping, live music, children’s activities, autumn treats and more.

The vendor market will feature 25 entities offering pumpkins, mums, breads, candles, honey, wooden items, clothing, decor and more. Borrachos Mexican Tacos and Back Roads Eats & Sweets food trucks will also be on hand. A pork burger and chips and soda meal for $5 raises funds for the Christmas wreaths for Main Street. Starry Grove Sweet Treats will be open, selling ice cream and treats.

“It’s a fun event highlighting all the local community and everybody that’s a part of the community coming together to celebrate,” said Valeria Cole, member of the association’s promotions committee.

Live music from Positive Pressure will start at 5:30 p.m. between the Laundromat and the fire station, across from city hall. The local band consists of firefighters who play country and rock music.

Kids’ activities will be set up at the old schoolhouse property.

“The library will be having an art show in the schoolhouse with art made by the storytime kids and the workshop presented by Julie Bousum,” said Gutekunst Public Library Director Amelia Root. “We will also have a make and take craft of yarn pumpkins. There will be carnival games on the lawn between the schoolhouse and garagefor kids to play and get candy or other small trinkets. The Friends of the Gutekunst Public Library will be having a book sale in the garage of the library during the fall festival too.”

There will also be a bounce house and face painting. Head to the train depot for pumpkin launchers and photo ops, including the chance to pose with a sleigh donated by Reisinger Farms in Eldora.

Businesses will extend their hours and also offer special sales and promotions. For instance, My Dinosaur Dreams Flower Co is offering a wood flower pumpkin workshop from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participants will get to decorate a white or black foam pumpkin with wood flowers. Payment and registration is required.

The festival’s namesake, Watson’s Grocery Store, will also be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Lion’s Club will be giving out popcorn to kids, while the State Center Historical Society will be selling $5 “walking charcuterie” consisting of a glass filled with wine or a non-alcoholic beverage, topped with a bowl filled with various snacks.

“Phyllis Paul donated the stemware, and Hy-Vee, through a charitable giving program, donated the food,” said Historical Society President Monica Edler. “Fun idea. So fancy.”

The pumpkin decorating contest will be for those 12 and under, and 13 and up. There will be a $50 prize for the winner of each category.

“Brian’s Collision is where it’s going to be. They’re sponsoring it,” Cole said.

The State Center Police Department is going to bring in a Range Rover that will pull a trailer filled with hay bales for rides.

“It’s an alternative option instead of a tractor,” she added.

Sponsors ensure that the fall festival offers free entertainment. To learn more, visit facebook.com/StateCenterDevelopmentPromotions and www.statecenterdevelopment.org.