CRESTVIEW — The Main Street Crestview Association and city’s annual Fall Festival attracted thousands on Saturday to the downtown area.
Numerous booths, with vendors such as artisans and local businesses, dotted Main Street. Smells of barbecue, sausages and funnel cakes filled the air.
In addition, there was live entertainment. Residents sat in lawn chairs to listen to music from the North Okaloosa Community Band as others browsed business’ booths.
April Meier owns Pawsitively Scrumptious, a Bark Bakery and Boutique on Main Street. Her store sponsored the Crestview Pet Parade and raised money for the Crestview Bark Park.
Jessica Donaldson and Sharon Thomas own online businesses and have recently started participating in festivals. Donaldson owns Memorable Designs and Thomas owns Flourish Creatively.
Sitting near Meier was Angie Nousiainen, owner of a 156-pound Great Dane named Daisy. Angie and Daisy were dressed as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Daisy is the sister of Dozer, a therapy dog that recently retired as Walgreen’s greeter. Meanwhile, My Safe Place had dogs available for adoption.
They weren’t the only canines around; many costumed dogs walked with their humans around the festival.
An many folks enjoyed wearing costumes themselves.
Crestview resident Chaella Stockstill made all her family’s ocean-themed costumes. Arian was a jellyfish, Kaiden was a shark, Owen was a turtle and Emmori was an octopus.
At one booth, members were dressed as Disney characters. Children were dressed as Ghostbusters, action figures, bumblebees, pumpkins and Crestview cheerleaders.
Crestview High School’s Theatre Group promoted their next play, “Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells Batman Smells,” which is Dec. 8, 9 and 10 at the high school.
In addition, numerous Okaloosa County schools students promoted Students Working against Tobacco’s efforts and numerous churches sold baked goods.
Residents we spoke to said they enjoyed the event.
“We like to come out and support our local community,” Kathy Lewis said. “It’s nice how they hand out candy to the kids.”
James and Charlotte Shumaker said they enjoyed the festival with their two daughters.
“We haven’t been in a couple of years, but we enjoy it,” Charlotte Shumaker said.
When asked what her favorite part of the festival was, Shumaker’s 11-year-old daughter said, “The iced tea!”
That was in reference to Bayou Billy’s Sweet Dixie Tea, which she drank out of a large tin mug.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Fall Festival brings costumes, carnival food and entertainment (PHOTOS)