Old Town Fall Festival Returns October 16-17 With Glass Pumpkins, Movies and Family Fun
If you haven’t taken a walk down North Broadway in Berea lately, this weekend might be a good time to do it. The Old Town shopkeepers are bringing back their Fall Festival for a second year, with two days of pumpkins, art, costumes, movies and activities for families.
The 2nd Annual Old Town Fall Festival takes place Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Berea’s Old Town Artisan Village. Friday features afternoon and evening activities, while Saturday brings a full day of festival events beginning at 10 a.m.
I’m excited to see them bring the Old Town Fall Festival back. It was a big hit last year. I didn’t get to spend much time there, but I did swing by briefly.
I love seeing the shopkeepers and artists build a stronger community in that part of town. I wholeheartedly support what they’re doing, and I hope folks will come out and enjoy the work they’ve put into bringing the festival back this year.
The festival is organized by the Old Town Shopkeepers, including Fire & Fern Glass Studio, Maddox Made and Top Drawer Gallery, with help from other Old Town neighbors and community partners.
Friday, October 16: Sewing, Pumpkins and Hocus Pocus
Friday’s activities begin at Old Town Fabric, located at 135 North Broadway.
From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Rebekah Johnson will lead a “Sew a Trick or Treat Bucket” workshop through Berea Learnshops.
Participants will select Halloween or fall-themed fabrics and create a lined, handled bucket for collecting Halloween treats. Materials are included, and participants who own sewing equipment are encouraged to bring it.
The workshop is listed as intermediate, meaning some sewing machine experience is needed, and is intended for participants ages 18 and older.
Registration details and pricing are available through Berea Learnshops and the Visit Berea events calendar.
Friday evening brings the first opportunity to enjoy Maddox Made’s Pumpkin Glow Garden.
From 6 to 9 p.m., the garden will open for pre-glow voting. The display brings together decorated pumpkins and invites visitors to take part in recognizing the creative entries.
Families looking for a Halloween movie can also head to Memorial Park at 223 West Jefferson Street for a free outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus.
Presented by Berea Parks and Recreation, the movie is expected to begin around 7:15 p.m. Free kettle corn will be available while supplies last.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a comfortable spot on the grass and enjoy the movie.
It’s a good way to spend a fall evening without having to spend much money.
Saturday, October 17: Glass Pumpkins and Old Town Artists
Saturday is the main festival day, with activities scheduled from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
One of the featured attractions is Fire & Fern Glass Studio’s Glass Pumpkin Patch, which opens at 10 a.m.
Organizers are planning a display of more than 300 hand-blown glass pumpkins.
That’s quite a collection, especially considering each pumpkin involves the skill and care of a glass artist.
Glassblowing has become an important part of Berea’s artisan community. Visitors can see how artists use molten glass, color and traditional techniques to create decorative pieces that look nothing like the ordinary pumpkins sitting on our front porches.
The Glass Pumpkin Patch is listed on Visit Berea’s calendar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival also brings together artists, makers, local businesses and community organizations.
According to the organizers’ vendor information, Saturday’s activities will be spread among three areas called Honeysuckle Grove, Harvest Row and Broadway Commons.
These spaces will accommodate vendors and community participants throughout the day, with some continuing into the evening.
I encourage folks to take some time to explore beyond the festival activities. North Broadway and Adams Street have shops and studios worth getting to know.
Old Town is one of those parts of Berea where walking around and looking through the shop windows can be just as enjoyable as having a particular destination in mind.
Saturday Evening: The Pumpkin Glow Garden
As daylight fades, Maddox Made’s Pumpkin Glow Garden returns from 6 to 9 p.m.
The garden is one of the festival’s signature events, celebrating the creativity of the people and groups who contribute their pumpkins.
Visitors can enjoy the lighted displays, with contest winners expected to be announced around 7 p.m.
There’s a big difference between seeing decorated pumpkins during the day and seeing them glowing after sunset. The evening display should provide a different experience for families who visited earlier.
It’s also a good option for people who can’t make it to Old Town during the daytime hours.
Fall Fest After Dark: Costumes, Food and a Movie
The Old Town Shopkeepers are also planning Fall Fest After Dark, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The evening program includes a children’s costume parade, a Monster Mash dance party, games, food trucks and vendors.
The costume parade offers children an opportunity to wear their Halloween outfits a little early. Families can also grab something to eat from the food trucks while enjoying the evening activities.
At 8 p.m., Moonlit Cinema on the Green is scheduled to begin.
Visit Berea lists the Appalachian Cinema Preservation Society as the presenter of the outdoor movie program.
The festival listing does not identify the movie title, so I recommend checking the official event page for any updates before making plans around a particular film.
With the Pumpkin Glow Garden, costumes, food and outdoor cinema, Saturday evening offers plenty of reasons to stay in Old Town after the daytime festival activities wind down.
Why I’m Glad to See This Festival Return
I’ve watched Berea change quite a bit over the years, and I appreciate seeing renewed attention paid to Old Town.
There’s a lot of history in that neighborhood, from the train depot area to the shops and studios along North Broadway and Adams Street.
The Old Town Fall Festival brings attention to the people working there today.
For a small business, getting people through the door matters. A festival can introduce someone to a shop they never knew existed, an artist whose work they haven’t seen or a business they might want to visit again.
I also appreciate that this is a cooperative effort. Rather than expecting one business to put on an entire event, the Old Town shopkeepers are working together.
And they’re doing it for a second year.
Anyone who has helped organize a community event knows how much planning goes into even a single afternoon. Two days of activities, vendors and evening entertainment take a considerable amount of work.
I hope the community responds by showing up.
Planning Your Visit
The festival takes place in the Old Town Artisan Village area of Berea, with the main location listed as 3 Artist Circle.
Friday’s featured festival hours are 6 to 9 p.m., with the Old Town Fabric workshop beginning earlier at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday’s festival hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Friday Hocus Pocus showing takes place at Memorial Park on West Jefferson Street, rather than in the main Old Town festival area.
Not every activity has the same admission or registration requirements. The Memorial Park movie is free, but visitors should check individual workshop fees and other activity details before attending.
For the latest festival information and any schedule changes, visit the official organizer’s page:
https://fireandfernglass.com/event-info
The festival is also listed on Visit Berea’s events calendar:
https://visitberea.com/events-calendar/e/2nd-annual-old-town-fall-festival-6aa2c277726d28a6edc6ac6d/
Since several activities are outdoors, I recommend checking the schedule again before heading out, particularly if the weather looks questionable.
A Good Weekend to Visit Old Town
I hope folks will make their way down North Broadway this Friday or Saturday.
Take a look at the glass pumpkins, enjoy the decorations, let the kids wear their costumes and visit a few of the shops.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to support a community event. Sometimes simply showing up and letting the organizers know you appreciate their work means quite a bit.
Last year, I only had time for a short visit. I’m glad the festival is returning, and I hope this second year brings even more people into Old Town.
The shopkeepers have put in the work to bring everyone together.
Now it’s our turn to come down and enjoy it.
✍️ About the Author
Chad Hembree serves as the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. A resident of Berea, Kentucky, and a former member of the Berea Council, he has spent decades working in community theater, arts education, and local journalism. Since 1995, he has operated BereaOnline.com, focusing on local news, civic issues, and stories that highlight community collaboration and grassroots efforts across Madison County.
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This article originally appeared on BereaOnline.com – your home for Madison County news, community events, and local updates.