Downtown St. Cloud Ready to Celebrate Second Annual Festi-Fall with Weekend of Events

(KNSI) – Downtown St. Cloud is gearing up for its second annual Festi-Fall this weekend, with events set on both sides of the Mississippi River.

The fun free community event starts Saturday, September 20th, on the Stearns County side with an expanded farmers market in the Lady Slipper Lot between 8:00 a.m. and noon. Beaver Island Brewing will be celebrating Oktoberfest in their taproom from noon to 10:00 p.m. The day features a stein hoisting competition, games, music and German-inspired fare. St. Cloud Pride in the Park will also take place that day from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Eastman Park along the shores of Lake George.

On Sunday, September 21st, Festi-Fall explodes on the Benton County side of the river with a ten-block street fair along East St. Germain Street between Riverside Drive Southeast and Lincoln Avenue Southeast. Moxie Ladies owner Marla Waseka is helping put on the event and told KNSI News the fair runs from noon to 5:00 p.m. and builds on last year’s successful debut that drew an estimated 3,000 attendees. “It was the most beautiful fall day. And it looks like our weather is going to be exactly like it was last year. High 60s, low 70s, sunshine. It’s just the perfect day to be outside.”

This year’s FestiFall East will feature food trucks, art vendors, children’s activities, and live entertainment. Highlights include Touch a Truck, followed by a car show that will line East St. Germain Street, and Touch a Pet presented by the Tri-County Humane Society. Musical entertainment will be provided by three live bands, with two performing at Iron Street Distillery’s parking lot and patio, and a one-man band at the beer garden in Boudreaux’s parking lot.

A unique addition addresses a conflict from the Minnesota Vikings. Waseka explained that if you can’t beat them, join them. “One other exciting thing, last year we had a little bit of competition with the big game that starts at noon on Sundays. And so, this year we have decided to join in and we’re going to have it broadcast throughout the street fair. So people don’t miss the game.”

Waseka also told KNSI News that Festi-Fall serves dual purposes as both a community celebration and a neighborhood improvement fundraiser. “The money that we make off of this event goes towards purchasing or doing more in our neighborhood. So last year, we put holiday lights on 10 blocks that run from Riverside to Lincoln Avenue. We’d like to extend that out to Highway 10.”

Art vendors are still being accepted through Friday.

The event marks the third year of FestiFall, which originally began on the West End before expanding to include the East End celebration last year.

The event also showcases local business development, with Waseka’s daughter Maddie conducting a soft opening of the Kitchenette at 417 East St. Germain Street in the former Dutchmade Bakery building. Visitors can tour the space and enjoy complimentary coffee or hot chocolate.

Nearby, Waseka’s Sage and Salvage store will be open, along with tours of her renovation project at 415 East St. Germain Street.

For more information about FestiFall, click here.

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