Fifth-annual Baldwin Fall Festival fills downtown with activities, crowds

Downtown Baldwin was filled with activity Saturday as the expanded Baldwin Fall Festival spread across into the new downtown park and down Airport Road.

Now in its fifth year, the festival offered free activities throughout the day, including numerous games for children, pumpkin bowling, ski ball, chalk art, visits from Heroes in Force, free concerts, cornhole, a Wiffle Ball tournament hosted by Baldwin Fire Department, and more.

The day began with the second Runway 5k, a race taking runners from downtown by the Habersham County Airport and back.

Councilman Maarten Venter said the course is “quite challenging” because of the hills.

Public Works Director Scott Barnhart coordinated the Currahee Fall Crawl Jeep Ride to the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area.

Arts, crafts, and food vendors opened at 8 a.m. and many remained open until after dark as hundreds browsed the offerings.

There was free entertainment throughout the day, culminating with a performance by The Maggie Valley Band, whose latest project will be released Oct. 28.

There was also a free movie, S’mores, and fireworks to cap off the day.

Councilwoman Alice Venter said the best part of the day was watching children and families playing all the different games, sitting together on the concrete drawing with chalk, and enjoying the entertainment – all free.

Monica Shulte of Clarkesville and her daughter Morgen take a selfie during Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

Runners make their way down Runway Drive as part of Baldwin's Runway 5k Saturday.

The Maggie Valley Band performs onstage Saturday during the Baldwin Fall Festival.

The focus of the Baldwin Fall Festival is to provide free, family-oriented activities for the residents of Baldwin, but city leaders say they always welcome others to visit and learn more about what the city has to offer.

Downtown Baldwin fills with activity during Saturday's fifth-annual Baldwin Fall Festival.

Baldwin City Councilman Maarten Venter runs past the beacon at the Habersham County Airport Saturday morning as part of Baldwin's Runway 5k.

Some of the women's medalists in Saturday morning's Runway 5k in Baldwin pause for a photo.

The start/finish line for the Runway 5k is in downtown Baldwin.

Vendors fill downtown Baldwin for the fifth-annual Fall Festival.

Hundreds visited downtown Baldwin Saturday for the city's fifth-annual Fall Festival.

Baldwin Public Works Director Scott Barnhart talks with area Jeepers Saturday before the Currahee Fall Crawl Jeep Ride departments from the Fall Festival.

Area Jeepers pull out from Baldwin's new downtown park Saturday as part of the Currahee Fall Crawl.

Baldwin City Councilman Larry Lewallen talks with Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones during Saturday's Fall Festival.

Festival-goers check out the offerings at the City of Baldwin booth.

Jennifer Davis of AirLife Georgia 2, based at the Habersham County Airport passes out water to runners Saturday morning during Baldwin's Runway 5k.

Baldwin officials pause for a picture Saturday with The Maggie Valley Band. Shown are, from left, Mayor Joe Elam, City Administrator Emily Woodmaster, Councilman Theron Ayers, Councilwoman Stephanie Almagno, Councilman Maartin Venter, Councilwoman Alice Venter.

Families crowd around the free games offered Saturday during the fifth-annual Baldwin Fall Festival.

Food vendors line Airport Road for Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

Captain America, Batman, and Ironman from Heroes in Force visit with those attending Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

Baldwin Fire Department's Wiffle Ball tournament gets underway in Baldwin's new downtown park.

Food vendors line Airport Road during Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

People browse the arts and crafts booths during the Baldwin Fall Festival.

Life Church offers free popcorn during the Baldwin Fall Festival.

Festival-goers check out the arts and crafts available at the Baldwin Fall Festival.

People line up for Shave Ice during the Baldwin Fall Festival.

The Baldwin Fall Festival Wiffle Ball Tournament, sponsored by Baldwin Fire Department, heats up.

Families enjoy the free activities during the Baldwin Fall Festival.

The Baldwin Fall Festival Food Court fills with people trying out dishes sold by food vendors.

Children take their turns on one of the inflatables during Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

Visitors to the Baldwin Fall Festival play some of the free games in the Farmers Market plaza.

Cornhole was one of the popular free activities during Saturday's Baldwin Fall Festival.

Baldwin Mayor Joe Elam talks with a young participant during Saturday's festival.

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