The Downtown Fall Festival is making its debut Thursday evening in Seymour.
The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Second Street from the Chestnut Street traffic light to the railroad next to This Old Guitar Music Store, so that section of the street will be closing early Thursday afternoon as vendors can start setting up at 2 p.m.
The event is being organized by The Magic of Books Bookstore, 1852 Cafe, The Pacey Apothecary and Common Roots.
Bookstore owner Jenna Martinez said it’s basically a downtown fall festival celebrating the first day of autumn, Sept. 22. and is free for the public.
“Over 30 vendors will be set up, ranging from direct sales, homemade goods, crafts and a variety of other things,” Martinez said. “Someone who does woodworking is coming. Plus, there will be spiritual gifts and knickknacks for sale.
She said about four or five food trucks will be setting up at the festival, too.
Author Candra Kylar of Greenwood will be teaching a Manifesting Made Easy class from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening. The class will help participants learn how to manifest their desires and reach their goals. There will be activities and easy-to-remember methods that will have attendees on the path to manifestation. The cost of the class is $20, and those interested can sign up at eventbrite.com.
Kylar and her mother also will be doing palm and tarot card readings. Past-life readings also will be available at the festival.
“We put all of this together very quickly and decided to do it over a month ago but couldn’t really start planning until we got approval from the city to shut the street down,” Martinez said. “So everything was on the back burner, but once we got the OK, things started to come together, and I think for a first-time festival, it’s going to be really good.”
Tonya Pacey, owner of The Pacey Apothecary, was in charge of music and entertainment and said they will be starting things off with a drum circle that everyone can join.
She said Derrick Manley, the front man of the modern psychedelic funk rock band Zu Zu Ya Ya from Louisville, Kentucky, plans to perform an hourlong set to close things out.
“We may have another band sneak in there to perform, too,” Pacey said. “Beer and wine will be available at The Pacey Apothecary, and Seth will be rolling out Lola’s for the first time.”
Tonya’s husband, Seth Pacey, will be debuting their food truck with a Mexican/American take and vegan options.
“We’ll have burritos, tacos, nachos, with beef, chicken, pork and vegan options,” she said. “It’s going to be in a tent while we navigate the waters at Fort Vallonia Days.”
Michaela Schlatterer of Common Roots said she’s helping the other businesses coordinate the vendors and food trucks.
Common Roots is a new small pop-up business located in Seymour, specializing in plants, gardening supplies, flowers, repotting services and more.
Schlatterer said she brings her items to The Magic of Book Bookstore and 1852 Cafe on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays currently. She is searching for a location to open up a full-service gardening center.
“Our event is family-friendly, and I just want to help support our downtown businesses and give everyone a reason to get out and celebrate fall,” she said. “We’ll see how things go, but we’re hoping to make this a seasonal event and having another one in the spring.”