Whatever the Weather: Autumnfest Success

Mercer Street was full of vendors and community members enjoying the festivities. 
Photo by Briana Gunter

Whether rain or shine, and in this case rain all day, Princeton Autumnfest went on as scheduled on Saturday, September 26 on Mercer Street.  While there was plenty of rain in sight, that didn’t keep vendors and attendees from enjoying the day’s festivities.  

Since the turn of the century in 2000, the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce has been organizing Autumnfest, each year bringing in more vendors and more people.  The festivities started at 10:00 AM and lasted well past the scheduled end time later into the evening.  There was a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy at the festival.  Some of the events included a chili cook-off, a meet and greet with Miss AutumnFest, a classic car show, a pumpkin pie eating contest, a pumpkin painting contest, and live music throughout the whole day.

Autumnfest is a great opportunity for organizations and businesses to come together and celebrate a new season while also showing off their merchandise and raising funds for their organization.  Some of the vendors included local businesses like The Sly Fox Shoppe, who offered discounted prices on their products all day, and Local Mo’ Joe, an organic café on Mercer Street.  Other organizations in attendance included the Mercer County Kiwanis Club, Mercer County Democrats, Tender Mercies, and Girl Scouts.  The Mercer County Animal Shelter also had a tent set up with several puppies and kittens that were up for adoption.

While walking through the street and looking at all of the fall décor available for purchase, the overwhelming smell of funnel cake, barbecue, and kettle corn filled the air, sending the senses into overdrive and making it hard not to indulge in all the warm, festive treats seducing the nose. 

While one could walk the street packed with vendors all day without getting bored, Autumnfest wouldn’t be what it is without the live music in the park.  Whether it’s serving as background music while walking the street or one chooses to take a seat in the park, there’s surely something that fits everyone’s taste.  Local bands and singers could be heard throughout the day doing original songs and covers of songs that most all know and love.  Many of the singers were part of a young talent show that was going on throughout the day.  Although Princeton is a small town, it’s remarkable how much talent can be found in this area.  Also playing was Princeton’s own regionally famous all-girl band “Distraction.”  Selections from every band included everything from Ed Sheeran to top hits from the 80’s to original songs.  It would be surprising if there wasn’t at least one song that could make anyone sing along or tap their foot. 

Anyone who wasn’t able to be in attendance of this year’s Autumnfest will surely have another chance next year.  The Mercer County Chamber of Commerce doesn’t show any signs of breaking this 15 year tradition.  To find out more about the vendors, organizations, and Autumnfest as a whole, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/PrincetonAutumnfest.  To see what other events are being held in Princeton and surrounding areas visit www.visitmercercounty.com/fall_events.