This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Watersedge Fall Festival Preview

For the writer and his family, the Watersedge Fall Festival offers one more chance to indulge in pit beef, cotton candy, rides and music from the local festival season.

Of the many fairs and festivals that my family attends throughout the year, we look forward to the Watersedge Fall Festival the most.

The fall festival is our last chance to enjoy pit beef, cotton candy and carnival rides. Also, the proceeds support the Watersedge Recreation and Parks Council, which provides low cost activities for both children and adults, ranging from youth sports such as baseball, football and dance, to exercise classes for adults such as yoga and Zumba fitness.

“This event is our main fundraiser for the rec council,” said Watersedge Recreation Council administrative aide Sandy Lamont. “Any money we generate goes directly back into the programs we offer the community. It allows us to offer activities at a greatly reduced rate and limits the amount of funds that the individual teams need to raise on their own.”

Find out what's happening in Dundalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Over the last several years, the festival has been plagued by bad weather and low turnout. So when Hurricane Irene blasted through the Dundalk area in the last week of August, followed by almost two weeks of non-stop rain, the organizers began to make plans to postpone and relocate the festival.

“They tried to set up the rides at Watersedge Park, but the ground was so saturated that the trucks carrying the heavy rides were sinking into the ground," Lamont said. "That's when we knew we would have to move the event.”

Find out what's happening in Dundalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Watersedge Fall Festival will open Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and run Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be located at the Watersedge Community Center at 7894 Dundalk Ave.

Local southern rock band, No Tell Motel, will kick off the festival on the live music stage on Friday before giving way to The Atlantic Beach Band at 8 p.m..

On Saturday, popular local duo, Norm and Carlos, will be the opening act, and then the rock band, Red Eye Express, will be taking the stage at 4:30 p.m. and then Heavy Metal Meltdown will be performing at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday's live performances will start with a show by the Watersedge Dance Company, followed by Dean Crawford and the Dunns River Band at 4 p.m. A Watersedge Fall Festival favorite, Still Under Oath, will close out the festival from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“The bands are a big attraction for us and we don't charge admission to get in, so you can enjoy them for free,” Lamont said. “Most of the bands play for free or at a discount, so it really helps the council.”

Other attractions include Shaw and Sons Amusements carnival rides and games, a local craft fair, various local food vendors, as well as the ever popular money wheel and flower wheel.

So come out this weekend and enjoy one last slice of summer at the Watersedge Fall Festival while giving back to the community.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?