ST. CROIX FALLS – AutumnFest was held in St. Croix Falls on Oct. 4 for its 13th year. The event takes place on the first Saturday in October each year with activities throughout the city. The beautiful overlook of the St. Croix River was the location of a vendor fair with booths including Fika Spice, The Knotti Hookster and a mini donut food truck. Jensen Pumpkin Patch was also there selling pumpkins and baked goods, including their 200-year-old recipe pumpkin bread using pie pumpkins and eggs from their farm. 3 Arrows Coffee gave out free pumpkin pie cookies and drinks. Local duo Shady & Sam performed live music in the background while attendees shopped and ate. The city’s farmers market, which takes place on Saturday mornings next to the library, was a part of the festivities and hosted a slew of its usual vendors including Jewelltown Roastery, Red Fox Gardens and Scandia Bread Company.
AutumnFest promoted shopping on Main Street, with many businesses decorated with pumpkins and fall decor, as well as visiting other events in the area such as Trollhaugen’s open house weekend and Franconia Sculpture Garden’s live music. Attendees were encouraged to participate in a self-guided city-wide cleanup effort. Woody McBride, a co-organizer of AutumnFest and many other St. Croix Falls events said they usually get around 20 families each year that will go down Main Street, by the river, and along the highway to pick up litter from the summer traffic. “We try to be a very ecological city,” added McBride. All in all, it was a fun, family-friendly day in the gorgeous city of St. Croix Falls that benefited small businesses and the community.
