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10th Annual Fall Fest this Friday

By Staff | Oct 26, 2010

Every year, thousands pack the annual Fall Fest at North Fort Myers Community Park, one of the area’s most popular annual traditions.

On Friday, Oct. 29, it will be the 10th year of the celebration, which includes costume contests for children, fun and spooky attractions and booths from various organizations.

“This year, every business and organization booth will either have candy or an activity such as tattoos, face painting, hair wraps and scarecrow building,” said Senior Recreational Specialist Libby Olive.

Olive credits two people for being so instrumental in the ever-growing success of the festival. Foremost, Senior Parks & Recreation Specialist and organizer June Christine Susterich, and local volunteer and designer Sue Dufresne.

“Miss Chris, as she (Susterich) is known, has built this festival,” Olive said. “She has been the force behind this festival for ten years, and Dufresne has made kids laugh and scream for the last nine years.”

A new twist this year is a Haunted Hayride. “Being the 10th year we wanted something different,” said Susterich. “We decided, instead of a Scare House, to go with a Haunted Hayride. However, we will still have a family hayride – not as spooky for little ones.”

Susterich said the free community event could not be so successful without the generous support of the community year after year. “Even in these hard economic times, we have received many donations for our raffle, which is always big, and goody bags.

“200 free goody bags will be given to the first 200 children up to 12-years-old that participate in the costume contest,” she said. “The kids can also trick-or-treat from booth to booth. We have about 50 businesses, clubs and organizations attending.

“Many local nonprofit organizations have donated to the festival, and our main sponsors are the NFM Fraternal Order of the Orioles, Nest 301 and the NFM American Legion Auxiliary.”

There will also be music, a Bounce House, a slide and more. “This year Pop Warner is letting us use their PA system, and they will have a concession stand.”

Of Dufresne, she said, “She was an inventor in this festival.”

Dufresne’s daughter attended the park’s after school program nine years ago, when the park wasn’t fully developed. Officials worked out of a portable on the grounds. “I wanted to do something for them,” Dufresne said, and that was how she got involved with the Fall Fest.

Since then her creativity has lent to costumes, props, design and more for the annual festival.

“The first thing we had was a ‘touch and feel’ tunnel, set up with spooky things for children,” she said.

Since then, she has been a chief designer of spooky effects.

“We are also getting a lot of hay, mainly from Futrails in Fort Myers,” Susterich said. “We will also have local clowns doing balloons, along with the other festivities. Last year, we had more than 2,000 attend. We expect many more this year.”

For information, call 652-4512. North Park is located behind the North Fort Myers Library at 2021 N. Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers.

10th annual Fall Fest this Friday

By Staff | Oct 26, 2010

ANDREA GALABINSKI Volunteer designer Sue Dufresne will again work her magic for the 10th Annual Fall Festival at North Fort Myers Community Park. Her creations are pictured here.

Every year, thousands pack the annual Fall Fest at North Fort Myers Community Park, one of the area’s most popular annual traditions.

On Friday, Oct. 29, it will be the 10th year of the celebration, which includes costume contests for children, fun and spooky attractions and booths from various organizations.

“This year, every business and organization booth will either have candy or an activity such as tattoos, face painting, hair wraps and scarecrow building,” said senior recreational specialist Libby Olive.

Olive credits two people for being so instrumental in the ever-growing success of the festival. Foremost, Senior Parks & Recreation Specialist and organizer June Christine Susterich, and local volunteer and designer Sue Dufresne.

“Miss Chris, as she (Susterich) is known, has built this festival,” Olive said. “She has been the force behind this festival for 10 years, and Dufresne has made kids laugh and scream for the last nine years.”

A new twist this year is a Haunted Hayride. “Being the 10th year we wanted something different,” said Susterich. “We decided, instead of a Scare House, to go with a Haunted Hayride. However, we will still have a family hayride – not as spooky for little ones.”

Susterich said the free community event could not be so successful without the generous support of the community year after year. “Even in these hard economic times, we have received many donations for our raffle, which is always big, and goody bags.

“Two hundred free goody bags will be given to the first 200 children up to 12-years-old that participate in the costume contest,” she said. “The kids can also trick-or-treat from booth to booth. We have about 50 businesses, clubs and organizations attending.

“Many local nonprofit organizations have donated to the festival, and our main sponsors are the NFM Fraternal Order of the Orioles, Nest 301 and the NFM American Legion Auxiliary.”

There will also be music, a Bounce House, a slide and more. “This year Pop Warner is letting us use their PA system, and they will have a concession stand.”

Of Dufresne, she said, “She was an inventor in this festival.”

Dufresne’s daughter attended the park’s after school program nine years ago, when the park wasn’t fully developed. Officials worked out of a portable on the grounds. “I wanted to do something for them,” Dufresne said, and that was how she got involved with the Fall Fest.

Since then her creativity has lent to costumes, props, design and more for the annual festival.

“The first thing we had was a ‘touch and feel’ tunnel, set up with spooky things for children,” she said.

Since then, she has been a chief designer of spooky effects.

“We are also getting a lot of hay, mainly from Futrails in Fort Myers,” Susterich said. “We will also have local clowns doing balloons, along with the other festivities. Last year, we had more than 2,000 attend. We expect many more this year.”

For information, call 652-4512. North Park is located behind the North Fort Myers Library at 2021 N. Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers.