The Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a busy fall with events coming in October that will feature some changes from years past.
The Diamonds in the Fall Festival is set for Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but unlike recent years, will not feature the well-attended Trunk or Treat event on the Pike County Courthouse Square. The latter event will be reserved for Halloween on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
In conjunction with the fall festival, the Murfreesboro High School junior class will also be conducting their annual fall carnival on the square instead of at the high school.
The festival will feature live music – beginning at noon – provided by the Hempstead County Melody Boys. Also included will be a 5K race (details pending), a bounce house and vendors, which includes at this point jams/jellies/baked goods, Tupperwear and honey.
The fall festival parade will start at 5:30 p.m. with a route yet to be determined. All interested persons are invited to be a part of the parade that will feature winners from the Miss Diamonds in the Fall Festival 2023 pageant.
For vendor/parade information, please call or text Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce president Lisa Harvill at (870) 557-1860.
A dachshund “weenie dog” race has been scheduled for 5 p.m. on the square with prizes to be awarded to the winner. Dogs may be entered in the race ahead of the event by contacting Cassidy Billings via Facebook or at the event prior to the race. The entry fee will be by donation.
Prior to the race, a pet costume contest will be held at 4:30 p.m. with prizes for the winners.
A cornhole tournament hosted by the Stelltown Baggers will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Harvill Insurance parking lot north of the square. The format will be a round-robin double-elimination tournament in which participants are asked to bring their own partner and bags. There is a $50 entry fee for teams, and depending on sponsors, the minimum monetary prizes will be $650 add-plus. Registration information will soon be available at www.scoreholio.com.
The Miss Diamonds in the Fall Festival 2023 pageant will be the week before the festival on October 21 at the Murfreesboro High School activity room. Rehearsal for the event will be on Friday, October 20 at 6 p.m., with pageant registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning with a $40 entry fee. The pageant will begin 10:30 a.m. and will feature the following divisions:
Boys 1-5 – Little Mister
0-11 months – Baby Miss
12-23 months – Toddler Miss
2-3 years – Tiny Miss
4-5 years – Little Miss
6-9 years – Petite Miss
10-12 years – Junior Miss
13-15 years – Teen Miss
16-24 – Miss Diamonds in the Fall Festival
Prizes for first, second and third will be awarded in each division. For entry forms, contact Angie Strawn at (870) 285-5269 or Kelsi Frachiseur at (870) 582-3882.
The Trunk or Treat on Halloween night will conducted from 5-6:30 p.m. on the Pike County Courthouse Square.
Motorists for both weekends are reminded that traffic through the square will be restricted during the event times.
HAUNTED HOUSE
The Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Murfreesboro Advertising and Tourism Commission, will host the inaugural haunted house at the former Pike County Hospital building.
The haunted house is set to be open on October 20-21, 27-28 and 31 from 6-10 p.m. each night. The hours of 6-7 p.m. each night will be a “kid-friendlier” version of the house with no loud music or bright flashing lights.
Admission to the show will be $10 for those 14 years of age and older, $3 for those 13 years of age through kindergarten and free for those not yet in school.
On Friday, October 27, an admission will be half price with a sales receipt from any Murfreesboro merchant that day.
The haunted house is still seeking volunteers that would be interested in aiding in the activity’s success. If anyone would like to join the cause, please call or text Harvill at (870) 557-1860.
