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Hundreds flock to Fall Fest

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The Farr kids, Dylan the Ninja, Lauryn the mouse, Austin the police officer and Logan the Ninja Turtle were among the hundreds of children who took part in the Fall Festival at the North Fort Myers Community Park on Friday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Madisyn Sutton, 9, of Lakeland, takes a look at some critters brought in by the Shell Factory Nature Park during the Fall Festival at the North Fort Myers Community Park on Friday. Among the creatures were a tarantula, numerous snakes, baby turtles, lizards, a goat for the petting and a small alligator on a leash. CHUCK BALLARO

It was a time for kids to test drive their Halloween costumes while spending quality time with friends and family.

It was also a time for local businesses to get acquainted with potential new customers while handing out treats to early trick or treaters.

As many as 1,500 people and more than three dozen vendors crammed the main football field at North Fort Myers Community Park for the annual Fall Festival on a beautiful Friday evening that featured just a touch of fall briskness in the air.

Event organizer James Pittro had every reason to be confident that this one would exceed previous fall fests.

“My estimate is that we get 1,500 plus with the weather we’re having. This event is getting bigger thanks to the sponsors the vendors and the people coming out,” Pittro said. “The volunteers got the bounce houses and the slides going early. We prepare for it.”

The event was slated to start at 6 p.m., but by 5:30 there were already numerous kids playing in the bounce houses and getting candy from the vendors who also set up early.

Among them was Holly Smith, who opened her Holly’s House boutique at Weaver’s Corner last spring and is working to get the name out.

“I was asked and I said I’d do it. It’s my first one. I have the candy and decorated the tent,” Smith said. “I’m displaying some of the stuff we have in the store. We also have 10 percent off if you come into the store, so we hope it brings business.”

Jessica Espinola came with her new Cash America advance company from Cape Coral and said it was great to give back.

“I love seeing the kids dressed up and we brought a lot of things, candy, balloons, water,” Espinola said. “It’s something we’d like to do again.”

But it was a night for the family. Ashley Bowker brought her son, Tommy, 3, who came as a policeman, and her husband, who came as someone Tommy just arrested.

“It’s something that’s nice for kids to get them out where they’re safe and not getting in trouble,” Bowker said. “We’re going to go around the vendors and enter my little one in the costume contest.”

Jim Lapoint also brought his family, including daughter Nicole, 10, who came as a peacock.

“It’s really nice. We’ve already got a lot of candy. I like that we got to do a lot of activities and have fun,” Nicole said. “We get to hang out and get candy so we like this.”

Austin Kier, 10, came as Superman and he said he loved just about everything.

“The best part is that the weather is nice and we got to pet an alligator and play in the bounce house,” Kier said.

Also at the event were a live DJ, the Shell Factory brought some critters with them, including an alligator, tarantula and skunk and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office brought some vehicles, and North Fort Myers Pop Warner was there to sell burgers and dogs.

With such an event getting bigger by the year, there’s no way anybody could lose, Pittro said.

“It’s a win-win for the community. We have vendors that are new to the area so it helps them and for the kids who get safe candy in a safe environment,” Pittro said.