This year’s 22nd annual Robinson Township Autumn Festival will feature a little bit of old and plenty of new.
That’s the forecast from Jen Yuvan, the township’s director of Parks and Recreation, who will be overseeing the festival for the first time.
“We were very intentional about keeping all the things that make the event great and trying to move it forward as well,” Yuvan said of the festival, which will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at Burkett Park.
This year’s event will feature more than 70 vendors, and new food and beverage vendors include Fat Cat Mac Attack, Rogue BBQ, Los Gingos Tacos, Vitalia Wood Fired Oven, Voyage Cider, Black Dog Wine Company and Jenny Lee Swirl Bread (5 Generations Bakers).
Yuvan said the township made a point to boost the food and beverage offerings.
“We went out and tried to find some local food trucks – that was based on feedback from the community about enhancing that,” she said.
Also, this year’s event will feature what Yuvan called a “nationally recognized band” in Let’s Groove Tonight – the ultimate Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band. The band will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and admission is free.
“It’s kind of a new thing for us to have someone of that stature perform,” Yuvan said.
This year’s festival will feature several other changes. What’s historically been called the Kids Zone has transitioned into more of a Family Zone, Yuvan said.
“Many of the things we’re doing now are not just for children,” she said.
For example, the festival will feature a trackless train, which historically was reserved for children but now will be open to adults as well, so parents and grandchildren can accompany the little ones.
Yuvan said Saturday’s festival also will feature an “amusement park-rated” swing ride, known as the Ballistic, which holds 16 adults or children.
Other attractions include cornhole boards, pumpkin bowling, hole-in-one pumpkin golf, pumpkin painting and inflatable axe throwing. The axes are not authentic, but Velcro-based.
Also on tap is free face painting from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a balloon artist from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. A gaming truck also will be available for people to pop in and play some video games. A fireworks display will close the event at 9 p.m.
The festival also will feature a number of youth group performances on the Grand Stage, and those alone are enough to boost the attendance figures, given the number of family members who come to support the youngsters.
“You have parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents to watch the young group performances,” Yuvan said. “And then you have people who exclusively come for the concert.
“Throughout the day, you end up with a significant number of people there for a variety of reasons.”
All the attractions are free with the exception of the rides and a bungee jump station. Festival goers can buy an all-day ride ticket for $15, or individual ride tickets can be purchased. Tickets for the bungee attraction are not included in the all-day ride pass.
Last year’s event attracted more than 5,000 people, and Yuvan expects a large turnout again this year provided the weather cooperates.
“When it comes to recreation, no matter what you’re doing and whether it’s spring, summer or fall, they’re extremely weather-dependent,” she said. “You just check the weather and cross your fingers.
“But it’s one thing you can’t control. You just have to navigate it.”
Yuvan said the township tries to put its best foot forward at events like the Autumn Festival, which she called the “marquee” event on the calendar each year.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase the township,” she said. “It’s not only attended by people who live here and enjoy our parks every day. With the number of people who come, we see a significant number of neighbors coming from all around to enjoy the day.
“It’s really an investment we make in our community to provide these kinds of events. And we’ll continue to do so.”
Township Commissioner Gina Pravlochak, who oversees the township’s Parks and Recreation Board, said she has enjoyed seeing all the planning that has gone into this year’s event, and she’s looking forward to seeing area residents enjoy the day “as I did when I was growing up here.”
Pravlochak said her goal when elected commissioner last year was to keep the township growing while maintaining its small, hometown feel.
“And I think all our events are doing just that,” she said. “Jen [Yuvan], our Public Works staff and our new Parks and Recreation board are working together to bring the best events for our community to enjoy, and I am proud to be part of it.”
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