With Labor Day done, summer is winding down and it is time to look towards fall.

The French Creek Merchants Association has paired up with the French Creek Development Association and other local organizations to host the city’s annual Fall into Avon festival Sept. 10-11. The event draws crowds in excess of 5,000 from the community, and from all of Northern Ohio.

This year, the festival will include a Farmer’s Market, Taste of Avon, Kids Pavilion, and live music, according to Fran Burik, president of the French Creek Development Association. Many of the activities will take place behind the former police station on Detroit Road.

“This event keeps on evolving through the years,” said Burik. “For many years it used to be just antique dealers only, and now we’ve gotten more and organizations involved. We are hoping to bring people out to let them know of the businesses we have in town. All the merchants will be running sales throughout the weekend. It’s about bringing more business into our district. A lot of the merchants have been struggling since the road was widened a few years ago. The construction slowed business down.”

A scarecrow competition featuring designs made by local organizations and businesses is a new event this year. The scarecrows will be on display throughout the French Creek District. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the French Creek Development Association booth and vote for their favorite scarecrow. The items will then be available for purchase through a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds from the contest will be donated Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Friendship APL.

“We also are continuing with the Taste of Avon event where local restaurants sell samples of their menu items,” said Burik. “We have 10 restaurants participating this year. The Farmer’s Market is another opportunity for visitors to purchase locally grown produce from the many family farms throughout the area.”

The Kids Pavilion will be located at the Goddard School on Hale Street off Detroit Road, and will include a coloring contest, bounce house and entertainment by a local magician.  

“We are so grateful to have Angela Schmid, owner of the Goddard School, involved with us this year,” said Burik. “The police and fire department also will be at the Kids Pavilion offering kids’ IDs and fingerprinting. Lori Miles, owner of Details and The Littlest Details also has been instrumental in organizing many of the activities for the festival. The district has such a wide variety of businesses from ice cream stores, home décor and Pilates, to floral shops and a candy store, everything you need is in the heart of Avon.”

Event organizers will be taking time out during the festival for a special remembrance at marking the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Sunday at the former police station.  Visitors are welcome to the 2:00 p.m. event.

In addition to her involvement with the French Creek Development Association, Burik also is president of the Avon Garden Club. The organization will be selling corn stalks at the festival, as well as bricks for a garden entrance at the Miller Nature Preserve.

“We are always looking for new members to the association,” said Burik. “We raise money throughout the year to purchase items around town such as hanging baskets along Detroit Road and holiday decorations. We are starting to make plans for Avon’s bicentennial, which will be in 2014. We need hardworking people who want to have fun doing something for the community.”