The first-ever Fall Fest will take place Oct. 30-31 on Main St. in downtown Russell Springs, according to event organizers Michelle Smith and Pam Pierce with the city's downtown revitalization committee.

"We're really focusing this event on the kids," the two agreed.

Russell Springs Mayor Hollis DeHart said he was excited for the event to get underway.

"We want to bring people back downtown and this is one of the ways we believe we can do that," he said. "We're almost ready to go."

The event, which has been in the works for more than a year, will begin Friday, Oct. 3 with Idol Fest, a combination singing and talent competition for different age groups.

Registration is slated for 5 p.m. that evening with contestants taking the stage at the stop-light side of Main St., according to Smith.

Applications for Idol Fest can be picked up at Russell Springs City Hall, The Main Event on Main St, or the offices of Laker Country 104.9 FM or 92.7 The Wave.

At 6 p.m. that evening the Idol Fest begins as does a haunted house in the old Ford building across from The Main Event.

The haunted house actually opens at 6 p.m. on Oct. 19 and runs through Halloween with the only off day being Sunday, Oct. 25, Pierce said. The haunted house runs to midnight on both Oct. 30 and 31.

She said that anyone wanting to be a participant and work in the haunted house give her a call at 270-566-8536.

At 7 p.m. a Sock hop begins in The Main Event parking lot while the Idol Fest continues on the other end of Main St.

Then at 8 p.m., the Star Theater's production of The Invisible Man takes center stage along with the night's voting for Idol Fest.

Events begin bright and early on Halloween with vendors opening and activities beginning at 9 a.m.

"We've already got 20 or 21 vendors ready to set up," Smith said.

At 10 a.m. to noon the Idol Fest winners are slated to perform. Then the Gospel Spirits of Fairview Baptist Church will perform at 11:30 a.m.

At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Little David and Rickie Mann will perform before Christian rock band Affinity takes center stage at 3 p.m.

A costume contest will take place at 5 p.m. with more details to be announced later while the event will be capped off at 6 p.m. with the annual "Trunk or Treat" on Main St. That event will run to 7 p.m. this year.

Anyone wanting to hand out candy to children at this year's "Trunk or Treat" need to come through Wilson St. at 5 p.m. to park and be admitted onto Main St. City workers will direct people where to go from there, they said.

Numerous other carnival-type activities will take place throughout the two-day event, including laser tag at the city park, according to Pierce.

Both Smith and Pierce said the city workers have been great to work with thus far.

"They've done whatever we've asked,"  Pierce said. "They've been great."

As the event draws nearer, keep reading the Times Journal for updates and additions to the schedule of events.