Twin City Fall Festival adds talent show and vendors

The Twin City Fall Festival will go on for its 13th year with a new organizer. The event will be held Oct. 11 in downtown Uhrichsville on East Third Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Former organizer Kathy Allen had made the tough decision to retire from organizing the festival. She and her husband, Ralph, had been taken charge of the event for the first 12 years by themselves.

As a vendor at the event for the past two years, Catherine Parrish of Uhrichsville was devastated that there would be no festival this year. 

“I didn’t want to see our city not have anything in it for the community. This is 12 years in the making. This year will be 13th year. I wanted to make sure it happened," Parrish said of her decision to step up.

The Allens will still be involved in the festival as a vendor at Ribbons & Wire and they will sponsor the free pumpkins for the children to take home.

Parrish is excited the event will have a talent show this year. Each participant will have five minutes to perform and there will be 20 spots available. A people’s choice winner will be named in the talent show and receive a trophy and cash prize. The talent show will be held from noon to 2 p.m., sign up at the DJ booth from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

An hour of line dancing is also planned from 11 a.m. to noon; music will be played by a DJ. People will be able to request their favorite song and dance in the middle of the festival.

"The characters change every year I know Kathy's done different characters in the past. This year it's going to be the characters from Toy Story,” Parrish said. “So, there's Woody, there's Buzz, and there's Jessie the cowgirl.” 

The characters will be appearing at the festival from noon to 2 p.m. 

A variety of activities are being planned for children. Instead of bobbing for apples, they will have fishing for apples at the festival and other old school type activities. The Claymont girls wrestling team will be there doing face painting.

A large variety of crafters and vendors will set up for the event. There are more than 25 returning vendors and about 20 new vendors with more being added. Some of the vendors include Paparazzi, Tupperware, Tastefully Simple, Blue Barn Quilt Shop, Savannah’s Soaps, Feathered Foot Homestead, Leslie’s Crocheted Things and more. A full list is available on the Facebook page.

Food vendors include Dandy Dogs, The Wood Fired Pizza Company and Little Lao Kitchen. Drink vendors are Sierra’s Coffee and Sips and Smiles LLC, featuring lemonade and other drinks.

In keeping with tradition, the chili cookoff and pie contests will be held again this year. 

There are two categories in the chili cookoff – regular and spicy, although no extreme spicy heat oils are allowed. Participants must bring their chili in a slow cooker with their name on the bottom. Judging will be on taste, aroma and consistency.

A pie competition will be held with two categories – fruit and cream. Each pie crust and filling must be made from scratch. Participants should put a label with their name and phone number on the bottom of the pan.

The cooking competitions are for amateur cooks only. For more information on the competitions and prizes go to Twin City Fall Festival on Facebook.

A car show will be held in conjunction with the fall festival in front of the Family Dollar store. There is no preregistration for the event, which is being organized by Jamie Randolph. All proceeds from the car show will be donated to Tuscarawas County Special Olympics. Special Olympics athletes will be judging the event. Registration is 9 a.m. to noon. Judging will be from noon to 2 p.m. and awards will be given at 3 p.m. 

With an expanded festival this year and play area for children, Parrish encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the day. For updated information visit Twin City Fall Festival on Facebook.