Fall Festival’s 50th year brings some changes

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro Fall Festival returns to a two-day weekend this year but with a twist. 

Saturday will focus on crafts and foods with street closures. Sunday, however, will be a revival of the arts, featuring a variety of performances at various downtown businesses.

It’s the 50th edition of the autumn event which is the major fund-raiser of the Randolph Arts Council, formerly the Arts Guild.

This year the Fall Festival will be held Oct. 4 and 5 in downtown Asheboro.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, major streets will be closed to vehicular traffic. Street closures will include Fayetteville Street from Salisbury to Academy streets, Worth Street from Fayetteville to Cox streets, and Sunset Avenue between Fayetteville and Church streets.

Rose Longuillo, director of the Arts Council, said some 185 vendors have signed up for spaces to sell their goods and food products. That includes bounce houses in the parking lot next to First Horizon Bank.

According to the website, https://randolphartscouncil.org/fall-festival/, Saturday will feature “the promotion of artists who are dedicated to making their own creations. Everything you could possibly want to eat or buy — and all made by the same individuals who are selling to you.”

The event will open at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 5:30 p.m. Streets will be closed around midnight as Friday melts into Saturday so vendors can set up their booths. Streets will reopen at 6 p.m Saturday as cleanup begins. Social districting will be suspended during the festival.

Sunday will be the performance side of Fall Festival artists. There will be live music, theater, dance, poetry and guest speakers performing at partnering businesses in the downtown footprint.

In a grand experiment of sorts, performers have been matched with businesses, some events free but most ticketed. The streets will be open for traffic but most businesses will be open.

“The business owners, the artists and the Arts Council all get a portion of ticket sales,” said Longuillo. She explained that the ticketed events “align with RAC’s mission and goal, to support artists and bring arts and creativity to the community.”

Performances will be held at different times throughout the day at the various businesses. All will be held inside and some will be repeated. Check the times on the list.

To purchase tickets, go to https://randolphartscouncil.org/fall-festival/ and click on “Buy Tickets.” That will provide a link to all the performances and their venues. Tickets can be purchased online for events not listed as “Free Event”  or “No Tickets.” Tickets are also available at the Randolph Arts Council at 123 Sunset Ave. during business hours. Call them at 336-629-0399 for information.

Anyone who wishes to see a performance but has no ticket at the door can purchase it online using a smartphone. No cash will be accepted.

— NOTE: The final act on the list on the RAC site is “Miscast!”, but that is not part of the festival. It is a production of Trinity High School and will be performed at the school on Oct. 18.

An Arts Council release summed it up: “The Fall Festival will continue to be a fun-filled event with creative and unique craft vendors, talented musical guests, crave-worthy foods and much MORE! Plans are on course for a safe and successful event.” 

For a list of Sunday’s events, see the Fall Festival pullouts in the printed edition of the Hub, available for sale at various locations around town.