Taking a bite out of fall

• Face painting

Celeste Beam | Echo Press This youngster was all smiles after checking out his “Batman” design that was painted on his face during the Foli Ole Fest at Anderson Florist on Saturday. The face painting was just one of the many activities enjoyed by kids of all ages during the 6th annual event.
• Apple on a string

Celeste Beam | Echo Press Trying to grab an apple off a string doesn’t seem like that hard of task – unless you can only do it using your teeth. These two children may have gotten a little help from a parent (and their hands) while trying to get their apples during the 6th annual Foli Ole Fest.
• Hair painting

Celeste Beam | Echo Press

Talk about it

Saturday’s weather may have played a role in the number of attendees at the 6th annual Foli Ole Fest.

The bright, beautiful sunshine could have helped to bring out the approximately 3,000 people who attended the annual event.

Regardless of what it was, Deb Peterson, event coordinator, was ecstatic about the success of this year’s Foli Ole Fest – from the number of attendees to the pounds of food donated and the dollar amount raised for the local food shelf.

Peterson noted that about 1,500 pounds of food were donated this year, which is nearly double last year’s approximate 900 pounds of food.

When the food and money, which was $380, was brought over to the Douglas County Outreach Food Shelf, Peterson said the director, Mary Sinning, not only thanked her for the donations, but also gave her a hug.

This year’s Foli Ole Fest took place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., noted Peterson, who said it was “absolutely insane” the entire time.

“I blinked and it was done,” she said. “It went so fast. We were so busy. It was crazy.”

Peterson said there were treat bags handed out to the kids who attended the event and that shortly after noon, the bags were all gone.

“We only planned for about 600 kids,” she said, adding that they did get more treat bags.

Besides all the sponsors of the activities, Peterson noted that there were several other sponsors as well, including Burger King, KIKV and COOL radio stations, Hilltop Rental Center, Walmart and Lamar.

She said the event couldn’t be possible without the help of all the sponsors and those who volunteer their time for the event. She is hoping next year to have more volunteers on hand to help with the event and make it an even bigger success.

WHAT DOES FOLI OLE MEAN ANYWAY?

According to a representative from Anderson Florist in Alexandria, Foli Ole is basically a fall festival, but that “fall festival” seemed too “boring.” Instead, the name is derived from playing off of Big Ole and the word foliage.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Here is a list of activities, along with the sponsors, that took place during the 6th annual Foli Ole Fest Saturday at Anderson Florist in Alexandria:

Apples on a string – First State Bank.

Face painting – Martinson Insurance.

Pumpkin painting – Anderson Florist.

Cookie decorating – Elden’s Food Fair.

Hair painting – Echo Press.

Scrapbooking – Dollar District.

Petting zoo – Erickson’s Petting Zoo.

Hay rides – Alex Power Equipment.

Ghost lollipops – Eye Associates.

Fishing booth – All Stop.

Candy hunt – KXRA Radio.

Minnow races – Jake’s Bikes.

Free pictures – Glimpse Photography.

Pitching cage – Alexandria Beetles.

Tags: local news, foli ole fest, anderson florist, news, family, alexandria