Dallas Center’s annual Fall Festival will include whimsical touches.
This year’s festival theme is “Wander into the Wonder of Dallas Center” and will feature nods to “Alice in Wonderland” through a Wonderland Cake Contest, Mad Hatter Tea Party, costume contests and more.
Along with the tea party, attendees will get the chance to meet a mini cow through Mini Dreams Ranch and get photos taken.
“That all blends together for a fun theme,” said Lezlie Ellerman, who helps organize the festival with DC Celebrations.
The festivities will kick off on Friday, Aug. 22 in Mound Park with a cake contest, balloons, hula hoop dance party and more. Free hot dogs will be provided by Raccoon Valley Bank, followed by the Ohana Pedal Power Tractor Pull.
The Scott Amusements Carnival will open at 5 p.m. on the east end of Walnut Street. Wristbands will be good from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 22 and 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. or 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 23.
Ellerman encourages community members to purchase advance tickets as all proceeds before 5 p.m. on Aug. 22 will go directly to DC Celebrations to help off-set the cost of the carnival. Advance tickets can be purchased at Board & Batten, Kids Korner, Korner Kone, Raccoon Valley Bank, Sugar Grove Goods, The Baker's Pantry and the library.
With the move of the carnival to the east end of Walnut Street near Heritage Park, space opened up in front of the businesses on Walnut for a concert. Live music will be performed by 10 Fold Return from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The festivities continue on Saturday, Aug. 23 with the Rotary Pancake Breakfast, 5k, 1k road races and a tot trot.
The Leonard Moss Memorial Parade will head down Walnut Street at 10 a.m. No registration is required and the parade will start lining up at 9:30 a.m. on Kellogg near the skate park.
A variety of activities will follow the parade, including a car, truck and motorcycle show, sand volleyball, bags, euchre and pickleball tournaments, an ice cream social, lip sync contest, pie auction and more.
New this year is an ISU Tailgate Game & Watch starting at 10 a.m. in Heritage Park. Ellerman said a big screen and sound system will be set up to show the Week 0 game between Iowa State University and Kansas State in Ireland. A foam party will follow at 3 p.m., also in Heritage Park.
A street dance will return after a multi-year absence with live music by Cardinal Sound from 7-9 p.m. in front of the businesses on Walnut Street, along with a beer garden.
The evening will wrap up with fireworks.
Ellerman encourages area residents to come check out the family-friendly activities during the Dallas Center Fall Festival.
“What our mission has been all along is to provide family fun and entertainment while showcasing Dallas Center at very little to no cost to parents,” she said.
For more information, including a full schedule of events, registration forms and event flyers, visit the Dallas Center Celebrations website and DC Celebrations, Dallas Center, Iowa Facebook page.