LE hosts Autumn Festival, carnival
By LAURA CHILDRESS

With two concerts, fireworks, a carnival and a full day of entertainment Saturday, Little Elm Autumn Fest event organizers say this year's festival, which begins this evening, Thursday, Sept. 27 and runs  through Sunday, Sept. 30 at Little Elm Park, should prove to be the best yet.

Following a deluge of rain that forced the cancellation of the finale of the chamber's annual Summer Rhythms concert series and the town's Fourth of July festivities, festival goers will see two exciting additions to this year's event.

"With all the rain we had in June and July the last Rhythm in the Park band had to cancel and the July Jubilee celebration as well," said Linda Kastner with the Little Elm Autumn Fest committee. "With all their bad luck and cancellations we will now enjoy the Killdares, a celtic and very popular band that was scheduled for the last Rhythm in the Park concert, will perform Saturday night at 7 p.m., to be followed by the July Jubilee Fireworks display which will begin at dark.

"Also scheduled for this year is the annual BBQ cook off, the chicken drop, the salsa contest, the ducky dash, pretty baby contest, Little Miss Autumn Fest and the Punt Pass and Kick contest and that is not all.

There will be entertainment on Saturday and Sunday.

Check the schedule so you don't miss a thing.” The fun will begin Thursday, with the opening of the carnival.

The carnival will present "all-you-can-armband” specials Thursday and Saturday. Armbands are available at Dollar General, Independent Bank, Little Elm Library, Capital One, and Retractable Technologies.

All you can ride arm bands will be available for $12 presale and $15.00 at the carnival. The arm bands are good for Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

At 6:30 a.m. Saturday, area residents may register to take part in the Little Elm Fun Run, which makes its return to the festival.

"All proceeds go to the Food Bank, a very worthy cause," Kastner stressed.

Flyers are available at the library.

Kastner added that one of the festival's highlights, the Anything that Floats derby, will also make its return this year.

"One of the most popular events is the Anything that Floats derby, which will take place on Saturday.” Also on tap for Saturday, the Fire Department will be holding a horse shoe tournament and washer tournament; and the BBQ cook off will be judging such delicious entries as ribs and brisket, chicken and a jack pot beans contest. So load up your cookers or just your taste buds and join in the People's Choice Award.

Admission and parking are free.

There will be parking at the High school and Junior High with shuttles running every 15 minutes.  The Boat Ramp and the Ramp Road will be closed completely.

There will be vendor parking available but it will be closed to vendors after noon and will not open back up until after the fireworks.

In a cool treat, the festival will wrap up with a free ice cream social, from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, with the Cliff Temple Band taking the stage at 4 p.m.

"Come join in the fun or just sit back and watch and enjoy the great food that will be sold at the many food vendors," Kastner encouraged.

For more information on any event call 972-294-2578.