Tag Archives: Fall Fest

Bryant Fall Fest 2013

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This years fall fest went without any issues. The weather was warm and beautiful compared to last years rainy, windy, and cold. Though this year didn’t seem to have as many activity booth’s set up as last year. I’m hoping there will be more next year as there was a HUGE crowd that turned out.

The red and blue things that are behind me in the photo is for laser tag, which is a set up by the Timberland Paintball. They opened a new location here in Bryant, Arkansas.

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I had a booth set up, selling paracord bracelets and paracord keychains, as well as my children’s book Dana’s First Fish. I am happy to say that I sold quite a few books and almost all of my bracelets. I know now to make more smaller bracelets than what I had, as they are more popular with the younger kids than they are with the teenagers and adults. Quite a few people placed special orders, as well as requested that I put them up on my facebook, selling them all year around. Doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

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Another thing I need to make sure I have next time is my canopy. I sat in direct sunlight, getting a nice sunburn. Actually, sunburns are not really nice at all as my chest is on fire, but you can get the meaning. I had not thought to bring sun screen, nor did I think to bring the canopy. The forecast said it was going to be cloudy. I’m not sure who typed that up, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Still, I shouldn’t have forgotten the sunscreen, right? Though there were a few clouds and quite a bit of wind in the early morning, the sky was clear and the sun was hot from about ten AM on. I also wore a short sleeved v-neck shirt, receiving a sunburn on my arms, neck, and chest; my chest being the worse. In a few days it’ll look a little like a farmers tan.

Another return to fall fest was the pumpkin bling contest. I had entered last year, as did my nephew Hunter, and my daughter. My daughter won first place last year in the children’s category and I had won second place in the adult category. This year I made a Cinderella coach, winning third place in the adult category. My daughter made a black cat, but did not place, and my nephew made a pumpkin eating zombie, coming in second place. It was a tough competition this year as there were so many pumpkins that were beautifully decorated in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

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Cinderella’s coach

I am going to rethink next years pumpkin bling, as well as make a check list so as not to forget anything…like sunscreen and shade. I hope everybody is enjoying the first days of Autumn. Happy Monday everyone!

Two Event Winners

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I finally receive word on the Fall Fest event winners and I won first place for the adult Pumpkin Bling event and my daughter won second place for the Youth Pumpkin Bling event. I had the mummy pumpkin and she had the skeleton pumpkin. I’m happy for her as she actually painted most of the pumpkin herself. The only thing I painted was the face. Of course I helped go over a few areas she missed, but I give her credit for painting it. Her first contest event and she comes in second. I’m very pleased. If you could see me now, I have this huge grin on my face!!

Pumpkin Bling and Fall Fest

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Yesterday was our Fall Fest here in Bryant, Arkansas. My daughter helped me decorate pumpkins for the Pumpkin Bling Contest. First time I’ve ever heard of Pumpkin Blinging. I had to check it out on the City of Bryant’s Facebook page to see what that meant. They really didn’t have a preference  They said we could carve, paint, or bling it out. ‘Bling it out’ only meant to decorate it with sequins, gemstones, or glitter. Something interesting, I thought. I’m only use to painting or mostly carving, but I wasn’t going to carve a pumpkin with a two year old.

With some help of a friend, who directed me to her Pinterest page, i was able to figure out a few design ideas. I bought three pumpkins, some fabric paint, gemstones, gauze (for the mummy pumpkin), and paint brushes.

Dublin helped me paint her pumpkin and even tried, unsuccessfully, to eat her paint brush. Yes, I was watching her that closely as I know her all too well. After a few hours we had three nicely decorated pumpkins; which I left on the kitchen table to dry overnight.

The next day my daughter and I got up early. My parents, who brought along my eight year old nephew, followed me over to Bishop Park. The temp was 44 degrees F and the forecast called for rain. I put Dublin in her stroller and bundled her up with two blankets, put one of my extra jackets on my nephew since his was too thin, and we walked our way up to the Fall Fest booths.

The first thing we did was dropped off our pumpkins. There were only a few entered in the contest already. Some very cute ones in the youth category. Mother’s and mine were the only ones in the Adult category and there were a few and the last category, which was business.

It was still early yet and booths were still being set up. So, we stopped at the ones that were already up and ready. Some of them had games, which my nephew played for toys or candy. I had his and my daughter’s pictures drawn. Then later my nephew learn how to make a pen in the shape of an airplane. I had one made for Dublin in the shape of a star. It was interesting just watching how it was done. The guy heated up the pen, lays the certain shape down on a wheel, gets the pen out of the heater, and has about 3 seconds (because of the cold temp outside) to shape the pen.

There were a few ‘guess how much candy is in this jar’ contests. Some booths had things for us adults to enter to win this or that. There were many booths selling all kinds of arts and crafts and handmade jewelry. Almost every booth was giving away free samples of their products and/or candy. All and all there were 112 booths.

By the time the parade was over and the Bryant Hornet Cheerleaders came over to dance and shout cheers for the crowds, it had started to sprinkle. I told my dad that now would be the time to make and exit before we got stuck with everyone leaving at the same time.

On our way out we ran into Ronald McDonald and suddenly I was five years old again. I just had to have my picture taken with him. I was grinning so big my dimple was showing in my right cheek. We had finally made it safely to our cars just as the bottom fell. Now I don’t feel bad for making the decision for leaving when we did, as we would’ve all been soaked.

We probably spent forty minutes at Fall Fest, but we’re hoping next year the forecast will be somewhat drier. And if there’s a Pumpkin Bling Contest, I’m a bit more prepared this time. Happy October everyone!