Fallfest

Four local charitable groups are hoping for big crowds at Westminster's 24th annual Fallfest. The event is a chance for them to raise significant amounts of money. It's also an opportunity for them to gain exposure. "It's one of our two biggest fund-raisers of the year," said Cal Bloom, a Kiwanis member and volunteer at the festival. "It's great seeing people have fun and helping my community at the same time." Charities compete for the chance to participate in Fallfest, which drew a record 50,000 people last year.

The 29th annual Westminster Fallfest kicks off a week of activities today in the downtown area with the Fallfest Mile Run and the annual parade. The Fallfest Mile is for those who can run a mile in 15 minutes or less. All participants must have pre-registered. The run starts at 3:45 p.m. on Main Street and will end at 4 p.m. The parade will step off at 4 p.m. from Dutterer's Park down Pennsylvania Avenue to Main Street to East Middle School on Longwell Avenue. Floats, majorettes, bands and politicians will be featured in this two-hour extravaganza.

Carroll County's neediest will benefit from the 25th annual Westminster Fallfest, which has pledged its proceeds to four area charities. Money from the festival, which opens tonight in the city's downtown, will help build a safe house for abused women, provide hospice care for the indigent and help pay for several school projects. Fallfest is the county's largest charity event and is expected to draw about 40,000 people during its four-day run through Sunday. The festival has 15 food vendors, more than 100 crafts booths and 250 volunteers to keep the event running smoothly.

Despite losing two days to rain, this year's Fallfest wasn't a total washout for four charities that chipped in hundreds of volunteer hours - and received $3,000 each for their work. Some of the money will go toward prescription drugs for Carroll County's working poor, scholarships, student counseling and anti-drug programs. "It's a win-win situation, the best of both worlds," said Ron Schroers, Westminster's administrator of recreation and activities, the department that organizes the festival every year.

Without volunteers at Westminster's annual Fallfest, there wouldn't be anyone to pick up trash, sell tickets to the Ferris Wheel or teach children how to stuff scarecrows. Without volunteers, Fallfest which started Wednesday, probably couldn't raise $20,000 for a handful of local charities, money that's used to support therapeutic horse riding, anti-drug campaigns and programs for the developmentally disabled, among others. "No volunteers, no Fallfest," said Ronald J. Schroers, Westminster's recreation director who oversees the Fallfest executive board.

The 23rd annual Westminster Fallfest steps off tonight with a music-filled parade through downtown Westminster from Dutterer Family Park to East Middle School. The parade, which begins at 7 p.m., features Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Brandon Stokley as grand marshal. The two-hour event highlights more than 60 groups and organizations including the Liberty, Francis Scott Key and Westminster high school marching bands, Westminster Police Color Guard, McGruff the Crime Dog, Smokey Bear, Westminster 4-H Club, several majorette groups, and local members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Westminster's annual five-day fall festival in City Park drew between 50,000 and 60,000 people who welcomed the changing seasons by riding the Ferris wheel, making scarecrows and eating funnel cake. But FallFest - which ran from Wednesday to Sunday - didn't generate the kind of profits it usually does, according to event chairman Ronald J. Schroers. "Our income was down from last year," said Schroers, Westminster's director of parks and recreation. In other respects, he said, the festival was an "extreme success."

Carroll County's largest charitable event, Westminster Fallfest, opens tonight with rides, food, games, family activities and music at the Westminster City Playground. The four-day festival - which brings together civic, business and nonprofit organizations with the Westminster Parks and Recreation Department and radio station WTTR - donates thousands of dollars to four charities each year. This year's charities are Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County; Human Services Programs of Carroll County; Kiwanis Clubs of Westminster; and Mission of Mercy, a mobile medical clinic that provides free services.

The 25th annual Westminster Fallfest starts at 7 tonight with what organizers call "Carroll County's largest parade" through the historic downtown area. This year's grand marshals are Baltimore sportscaster Vince Bagli, and Mayor Tomis Koiv and City Council Chairman Andes Jalak, visiting dignitaries from Westminster's sister city of Paide, Estonia. The parade, including floats, marching bands, majorette groups and other organizations, will line up on Monroe Street starting at 6 p.m. Once the parade is under way, police will close streets along the route.