The spookiest time of year is just around the corner and the Dryden Fall Fest committee is looking for volunteers.
After a very successful inaugural year, Organizer Laina Smith joined the Rotary Club of Dryden virtually to talk about plans for the 2021 festival and the need for volunteers at all three weekend events.
Harvest Hay Day kicks off the festival October 2nd which features a vendor market, food, a children’s treat and trees walk and more at Laura Howe Marsh.
“(For Harvest Hay Day) we need entrance greeters, people directing vendors before the event starts to their stalls, people to decorate the selfie station and for the treats and trees walks, people need to bring in tables and chairs into the marsh and people to sit at the tables for the children,” explained Smith.
The Laura Howe Haunt and Trunk or Treat will also be back at the marsh October 16 and 31, with various volunteer roles to be filled.
Last year, Dryden residents who wanted scare lined up two hours before the Haunt even started.
“We had 470 people through the trail and at least 50 if not more volunteers,” said Smith. “We actually turned away more people then we could get through the attraction because there were so many people who wanted to come. This year, we’re hoping if we can get more volunteers we can run two nights.”
Even with strict COVID-19 restrictions in place at the 2020 festival, Smith calls their first festival a huge success.
“Our expectations were blown out of the water by how well received they (the events) were and attended. Our goal as a committee has always been to improve the Dryden community experience by creating three outdoor events in the fall that encourage people to get out one more time before winter hits.”
In 2020 there were 863 attendees at Harvest Hay Day, 470 people through the Laura Howe Haunt and 1117 trick or treaters at Trunk or Treat with 27 thousand pieces of candy handed out.
The Ontario government is supporting the second-year festival with a $5,350 grant under the Reconnect Festival and Event Program.
If you’re interested in volunteering, being a vendor or a sponsor this year, fill out the participate form at drydenfallfest.ca.
