The Geneseo community kicked off the fall season with its third annual Autumnfest on Main Street on Saturday Sept. 21. Hosted by the Geneseo Merchants Association, this event consisted of a smorgasbord of activities and events throughout the entire day including carriage rides, wine tasting, dancing, singing local vendor stations and pumpkin painting and racing. According to the official Autumnfest press release, Geneseo Merchants Association is a “volunteer organization that works to promote the local business community through events and group promotional opportunities.”
Center Street was closed off all day and lined with food vendors selling fresh fruits and treats such as apples, nectarines and kettle corn.
The Geneseo’s Got Talent Show was also on Center Street at 1 p.m. featuring musical a cappella groups, stand-up comedians, musicians and even some juggling. The participants were required to pay $20 to enter the competition and the judges consisted of Geneseo community members, including Mayor Richard Hatheway. The talent show consisted of 10 performances out of which a cappella groups Hips n’ Harmony and Exit 8, and solo performer Madison Scoville made it to the last round. After an intense final round, Exit 8 won the grand prize of $500.
Music and dancing were also present in the form of Geneseo student organizations such as the Geneseo String Band and Geneseo Bhangra.
A historic horse-drawn-carriage provided Autumnfest attendees with an opportunity to experience Main Street with a breath of fresh air and scenic view of the Wadsworth Homestead.
The Great Pumpkin Race began at 4 p.m. on Bank Street. Pumpkin and face painting stations were set up to decorate Autumnfest-goers and their pumpkins. To participate in the race, kids and adults alike lined up at the top of Bank Street to roll their painted pumpkins down as fast as they possibly could. The pumpkins were $1 each, to be contributed to the Geneseo Merchants Association and winners were rewarded with gift cards from Main Street vendors Empire Salon, Frugal Fashionista, Joe’s Comics, Envy Salon and Spa, Buzzo’s Music and Touch of Grayce.
T-shirts were contributed by Kelly’s Saloon as well as a hat from Brows, Brazilians & Bikinis Inc. Members of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and Sigma Delta Tau sorority were running the pumpkin station, collecting the $1 pumpkin fees and standing at the bottom of Bank Street to declare winners for the pumpkin races. “I really liked how the families in the surrounding area and the college community could come together to enjoy this great event,” senior Melissa Liriano said.