Haliburton Village will be transformed into an authentic autumnal tableau for this year’s Colourfest complete with pumpkin rolling scarecrow building and fall food for sale at the farmers’ market.

Hitch a ride on a horse-drawn wagon from the park to main street and check out the deals in town; watch the kids as they leap and bound in the Kids Zone bouncy castle; listen to the many street performers as they sing and play for your entertainment.

Colourfest is an annual fall celebration in the town which has changed shape over the years but has always maintained its focus on family fun says volunteer Gail Stelter.

“The underlying theme is family. It is a family fall festival but the importance of having something like the farmers’ market is that yes even the seniors enjoy strolling through the market and watching the kids on the bouncy things bringing their grandchildren to the pumpkin rolling contest and that type of thing” she says.

“With our buskers and the variety of talent we have we think you could easily come and spend the whole time no matter what your age and find something to do.”

This year Colourfest is Saturday Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on York and Highland Streets and in Head Lake Park.

Among the long list of things to see and do: Time Travellers vintage cars; minnow races run by the fish hatchery; pontoon boat rides sponsored by RPM; firefighters’ demonstration at Rotary Beach; Wee Care kids’ activities; hospital auxiliary booth; Lions Club barbecue; and St. George’s Anglican Church dinner.

Scarecrow building will be run by the Haliburton Highlands Museum. The idea first came to Dysart’s recreation co-ordinator Andrea Mueller who is working on Colourfest on behalf of the municipality when she saw a similar project in Wilberforce. All of the materials will be provided for anyone wanting to make a scarecrow.

“There will be prizes for kids and adults … everything will be provided” says Mueller.

“If they want to take it home with them they can” she says.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to judge the scarecrow contest as well as with registration of the Time Travellers; handing out balloons; and helping people onto the horse-drawn wagon.

The pumpkin rolling contest is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Haliburton. The pumpkins are free and at the end the kids can take home their pumpkins – plus there are prizes to be won. You need to register for the contest ahead of time and the races begin at 1 p.m.

Street performers and buskers include Shout Sisters choir the music of Chad Ingram Haliburton Dance Academy Shannon Neville on fiddle and many more. Organizers are still open to new talent.

Contact Mueller at the Dysart municipal office.

To find out more about Colourfest watch for advertisements in next week’s Fall Tour special or go to Facebook.com/ColourfestHaliburtonVillage. You can also call Mueller at 705-457-1740.