Downtown Thomaston will host area residents in a day of fun, shopping, food and entertainment during the first annual Flint River FallFest, Saturday, Oct. 18 on the Square.

Thomaston Main Street Association is hosting this all-day event as an opportunity to bring people downtown to enjoy community fellowship during this homecoming season.

With the American Heart Association's Heart Walk beginning at 7:30 a.m. and downtown merchants bringing their merchandise out onto the street for a sidewalk sale at 9 a.m., the early-riser will have many activities to anticipate.

Perhaps one of the most exciting events of the day is the Kiwanis Pet Parade and downtown Trick-or-Treat. Registration for the Pet Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. in front of the First Baptist Church at 208 S. Church Street, with the parade starting at 11 a.m. The parade is for toddlers to age 10, who must be accompanied by an adult to participate. The parade of costumed-children will leave from the First Baptist Church, parade up to the courthouse Square, and continue around the Square before returning to the church, where prizes will be awarded. Prize trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place winners in the two costume categories: 'Pet and Costume' and 'Costume-only.'

Immediately following the Kiwanis Pet Parade is the downtown Trick-or-Treat. Thomaston Main Street will provide orange Trick-or-Treat bags for the children to take around to participating downtown merchants and receive candy and other goodies. The downtown Trick-or-Treat will end at p.m.

Children's activities are not all that Thomaston Main Street has planned for Saturday's activities. With over 30 food and crafts vendors committed to the event, the Flint River FallFest is sure to be a day the whole family will enjoy. Expect the traditional festival and fair fare, including funnel cakes, fried Twinkies, cotton candy, snow cones, pork skins, boiled peanuts, hamburgers, hotdogs, BBQ and much more. Arts and crafts vendors include many seasonal and holiday items, beaded jewelry, glow-in-the-dark jewelry, gift baskets and bags, ceramics, and the list goes on.

WTGA Fun-101 will sponsor a live remote on the Square, and local talent will perform on the Square throughout the day, beginning at 11 a.m. Other activities include a hay maze, jolly jump, face-painting, pumpkin-decorating, bobbing-for-apples, 'Tin-Can Alley' pistol shoot with rubber darts, and personal sketches by TUAC, along with other opportunities.

At 5:30 p.m. The Upson Citizen's FallFest Pumpkin Face coloring contest winners will be announced.

The Dirk Howell Band will go onstage at 6 p.m., playing a variety of beach, country and Southern favorites.

Remember to bring your dancing shoes and an appetite for fun, food and fellowship to downtown Thomaston this Saturday and participate in this community-wide celebration.

The Flint River FallFest is sponsored by the downtown Thomaston merchants, United Bank, Thomaston Ford, Quad/Graphics, Upson Regional Medical Center, Driver & Adams, CPA, Bank of Upson, Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home, OpTech, West Central Georgia Bank, Connell & Wheeler, Attorneys, FLAG Bank, Criterion Technology, Inc., Hill Construction Company, The Thomaston Times, The Upson Citizen, The Griffin Daily News, Town & Country Shopper, WTGA Fun-101, TV-10 and the Thomaston Main Street Association.