Fall fest remains a family favorite

by Dan Holland

The fourth-annual Broadview Heights Fall Fest, held the afternoon of Sept. 28 at the city amphitheater, drew more than 2,000 attendees.

The event featured a DJ, family photo station, games and prizes, hay rides courtesy of Luther’s Farm Market, a pumpkin patch, a pumpkin decorating and face painting tent, inflatables, food trucks and a performance by Broadview Heights’ own magician/illusionist Rick Smith Jr.

“It’s a great sense of community to bring everyone together,” said Erin Kubat, communications and fitness coordinator for the city’s parks and recreation department, which hosted the event. “People of all ages and generations can come here and have fun at this event. It’s awesome that our city supports events like this and makes these activities available pretty much for free to everyone.”

Kubat said she brought her own family to enjoy the fun.

“My kids ran up to get their face paintings and stick-on tattoos, and they love the bounce houses, the pumpkin patches, and I’m sure they’ll be in line for the Luther Farms hay ride,” she added. “New this year is Rick Smith Jr. performing his magic show. And the music allows kids to have a little dance party if they want to, [and enjoy] the food trucks and all the good treats we have for them.”

Brecksville resident Nicole Smith brought her 12-week-old daughter, Rose, to the event.

“I just love the sense of community; we love that they hold this event every year,” she said. “We got her a pumpkin to take home. Next year, we’ll be able to do face painting and take part in more activities. It’s just fun to be able to get out.”

Friends Amanda Betts, of Broadview Heights, and Kailee Schwender of Seven Hills, met up at the event, each bringing their children in tow.

“We have been to Fall Fest before,” said Betts. “We really enjoyed it a couple of years ago, and we saw it posted on Facebook, so we brought the kids up to ride on the hayrides and pick out some pumpkins.”

Brecksville resident Renee DeSantis said she and her grandchildren, Chloe and Dylan, mostly enjoyed the face painting, the inflatables, the magic show and hayrides.

Former Broadview Heights Councilperson George Stelmaschuk attended the event with his daughter Emily Hodges, who was visiting from Georgia, along with granddaughters Ivey, Abigail and Ava.

“The girls really liked decorating their pumpkins and putting stickers on them, and the bounce houses were a lot of fun,” said Hodges. “We also got to catch a little bit of the magic show.”

Steve and Hillary Kaput of Broadview Heights, along with children Finley and Emma, said they took advantage of the photo booth and enjoyed hayrides and pumpkin decorating, as well as the other family activities. ∞