The pie eating contest, a favorite during the Fall Festival, returns at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The 40th annual Fall Festival, which promises to be bigger and more kid-friendly, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
In years past, Main Street would be closed from Chadeayne Circle to Willow Avenue, but this year the festival will extend to Hazen Street, making room for more activities and additional vendors.
Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce president Richard Massimi said 30 new vendors will make an appearance this year. As of last week, 78 vendors had signed up for a booth at the festival. The 11 festival sponsors will also have tables. Last year’s event saw 100 vendors line either side of Main Street. Massimi expects the traditional influx of vendors in the final week leading up to the festival and estimates topping out at between 125 and 130 vendors.
The festival will also provide more for the kids to do. Throughout the day, kids can paint a pumpkin on the corner of Willow Avenue, or enter a coloring contest by beautifying an image of Ring’s Pond and the gazebo. A new vendor will be on hand with bounce houses and rides. Massimi said the Chamber is still looking into a remote-control car set-up, as well as pony rides.
For the second year in a row, the festival will be held on a Sunday, instead of the traditional Saturday.
“We had a phenomenal turnout,” Massimi said. “Some people were skeptical. Nobody really knew how it was going to turn out as far as people coming. A lot of the food vendors sold out of food before the fair was over because it exceeded everyone’s expectations. We’re hoping for the same this year. Obviously the weather will play a big part.”
With families working or getting involved in their children’s extra-curricular activities, it made it difficult to attend the festival on a Saturday. Sunday has become the day of rest and the day for families to spend together. Massimi said the hope is families will stop by the festival after church services.
Last year, a couple of the churches on Main Street were concerned their congregants would have difficulty navigating around the festival, but that didn’t happen. Massimi hopes it won’t be a bigger issue this year with Main Street closed to Hazen Street. He said he did receive a letter from one church requesting the volume be kept down on the music until services end around noon.
“We are going to try to accommodate that,” he said.
As in previous years, various entertainment is scheduled throughout the day. The popular pie eating contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. This year all participants will receive a coupon for a free slice of pizza at any of the three pizza parlors in Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson. First, second, and third place winners will also receive a ribbon.
Bands will continue to set-up on the Willow Avenue stage, while the other entertainment will take place near Bridge Street.
Bands to perform this year include: The JS Experience, Mister Big Head Band, Escape from Reality, M.T. Heads, Third Degree East, Neil and the Blondies, Better Late Than Never.
Gym Kids, Rae of Light Kids Yoga, Footworks Dance Studio, and the Magic of Kevin Wurster will provide additional entertainment.
