First annual Pretzel Park Fall Festival to include pumpkin painting, live music and costumed parades for kids and dogs

This Saturday, Manayunk’s Pretzel Park will be full of superheroes, princesses and four-legged hot dogs for the First Annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ann Tetreault, owner of The Spiral Bookcase, said the event was created to raise awareness about The Friends of Pretzel Park, who organized the event, while providing a day full of fall activities for local residents.

“We want to show how neighbors can really make a difference,” said Tetreault. “We have already done a lot to improve the park and try to bring activities to the park and we are hoping that other people will see that and want to get involved so that we can continue to have a more vibrant community center.”

The family-friendly event will include face and pumpkin painting, a pumpkin toss, a costume parade and contest for kids, a costume dog parade and a performance by Merge Dance Studio. Children will also be able to play at the coloring station for a chance to have their artwork displayed at a local business for First Friday.

Live music will be performed by local musicians Chris and Lou, Jame Klueh, Wolves in White, Laura Cheadle and EDO from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be a special guest appearance from Stella the Maneater from Manayunk, the host of the 1980’s hit show Saturday Night Dead.

At 6 p.m., guests can watch the 1944 feature Film “Voodoo Man,” which features Dr. Richard Marlowe, who is trying to reincarnate his late wife by transferring the life essences of women he has imprisoned in the dungeon of his mansion.

In addition to the festival, attendees will also be able to participate in “Halloween in Manayunk” with early trick-or-treating opportunities at local businesses from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participating stores will be marked with a fall display by the door and plenty of candy. 

Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win gift baskets and cards donated by local businesses such as Latitudes and Longitudes, The Little Apple, and Meadowsweet Vintage. The raffle’s proceeds will go towards the greening and beautification efforts of The Friends of Pretzel Park.

The event is free and open to the public. For the full schedule of events, go to friendsofpretzelpark.org.