OctoBOOfest set for Saturday in downtown Perrysburg

From last year's Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza at the downtown Perrysburg festival. DOWNTOWN PERRYSBURG INC. Enlarge

Perrysburg will be in the seasonal spirit day and night Saturday with the OctoBOOfest, presented by Downtown Perrysburg Inc.

The whole family is invited to a free pumpkin carving session and street fair in the afternoon, and a BOO Bash! dance party for the 21-and-older crowd will rock the night.

"I am very excited about the introduction of this new DPI day-long fall festival event," DPI president Kerry Wellstein said in a news release. "With the pumpkin carving, street fair and BOO Bash we are able to appeal to all age groups and get the whole community involved in OctoBOOfest."

More than 300 pumpkins will be waiting to be scooped and sawed at Hood Park from 1-4:30 p.m. Members of the Perrysburg High School Art Club will be there to provide guidance, and judges will rate the best carvings.

The jack-o-lanterns then will be displayed around the Commodore Perry Monument and lighted with candles every evening through Halloween, according to Downtown Perrysburg Inc. They will be recycled through the city's Great Pumpkin Patch Recycle Roundup program.

The Fall Fest Street Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. along Louisiana Avenue in the historic downtown will include hay rides, Chortie the Clown, the YMCA Fun Bus, and Crazy Craig’s juggling and stilts. Kids can enjoy a bouncy house and face painting, and free popcorn, cotton candy, and apple cider will be offered. The Dance Factory and Cindy Slee will provide musical entertainment, and street vendors and entertainers will include professional pumpkin carving demonstrations by Ice Creations.

A heated tent will be raised on East Second Street at Louisiana from 7 p.m. to midnight for BOO Bash! with dance music provided by DJ Richie Rich. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Downtown Perrysburg Inc. offices at 117 E. Second St. and online at http://octoboofest.com. Tickets also will be sold at the tent, but space is limited and advance tickets are recommended, according to the downtown group.

BOO Bash! guests are invited to wear Halloween costumes, the best of which will be recognized at the party. Beer, including seasonal micro-brews, will be available.

"I am so looking forward to the BOO Bash," said Rob Brunner, treasurer of Downtown Perrysburg Inc. "The crowds at DPI events have always been so enthusiastic and the energy level if off the charts in Perrysburg."