The delightful fall festival Twisted Wilderfest, celebrating friends, family and arts and crafts makes its return on Saturday, October 1
By Mary Malik
The City of Green is welcoming all things fall with its festival, Twisted Wilderfest, taking place rain or shine on Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Southgate Park. Twisted Wilderfest is a free event filled with arts and crafts, food, music, and fun for the whole family.
“We’re celebrating nature and makers at this family-friendly community event. We’ll showcase the creative ‘makers’ and the natural beauty this city has to offer,” says Valerie Wax Carr, director of public service for the City of Green. “This year, we’re happy to announce that the very popular hayride is back at Wilderfest.”
Visitors board the hayride from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., head out to the pumpkin patch where the city has grown over 1,000 pumpkins, and pick out a pumpkin for purchase to take home. Valerie says much of the entertainment at Twisted Wilderfest is geared towards the kids, with performers like Story Time by Miss Brandie, kids’ activities sponsored by KinderCare, PhilUp balloons and the Jack-O-Lantern Hike.
“The Jack-O-Lantern Hike is always a bit unpredictable,” teases Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Kim Goodhart. “The idea is for the kids to decorate their pumpkins then we light them up and line the path. We’ve discovered that sometimes the kids aren’t willing to part with their pumpkins, so the path is a little sparse. We’ll try again this year.”
Families also enjoy touring Lichtenwalter Historic School House, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Built in 1885, the one-room schoolhouse was rebuilt to its original specifications after a fire in 2016. It now stands fully restored and ready for visitors.
“Twisted Wilderfest vendors are a bit more arts and crafts, less fine arts,” says Valerie. “We also focus on the beauty and bounty of our natural surroundings by inviting visitors to explore our beautiful Southgate Park and check out the Historic Hartong Farmstead. The farmstead is once again a fully sustainable farm known as Southgate Farm run by Rachael Bellis and Justin Turner, the husband-and-wife team raising livestock and growing fruits and vegetables here.”
Southgate Farm is owned by the City of Green and is just one of the unique things about this city.
“Having a working farm in the middle of the city is part of Green’s very unique history,” says Valerie.
Twisted Wilderfest is held in partnership with the Green Arts Council, Twisted Olive restaurant, and WKDD, located in the heart of Southgate Park. Twisted Olive takes full advantage of the park setting with its outdoor seating areas and lawn that is the setting for the musical entertainment at Twisted Wilderfest.
On Saturday, October 1, on the Twisted Olive lawn at Twisted Wilderfest will be:
- 11 a.m. - Scott Marshall Music
- 1 p.m. - Lisa & Heather Malyuk
- 2 p.m. - Don Fulmer
- 3 p.m. - One String Short
- 4 p.m. - Dale Galgozy
The food vendors and food trucks at Twisted Wilderfest include Bereka Coffee, Chick-fil-A, D & M Grille, John’s Gyro King, LeMacaron French Pastries, OG Street Eatz, Southern Thangs and True Roots BBQ.
Arts and craft vendors include everything from jewelry, ceramics, soaps and lotions to specialty foods and candles, photography, clothing and accessories along with many more unique artisans.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the City of Green,” says Valerie. “Join us and learn about this city’s farming history, all of the arts, and take a day with the family to enjoy some food, music and fun with friends and neighbors.”
For more information on Twisted Wilderfest, check the website at CityOfGreen.org or call 330-896-6621.