By MIKE MCCOY
Statesman Staff Writer
BERNIE, Mo. -- The annual Bernie Fall Fest will feature well-known country musician Paul Wayne Pierce and lots of activities for the whole family on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Bernie City Park.
The traditional start to the festivities is the Fall Fest Parade beginning at 10 a.m. The parade will begin organizing at 9:30 a.m. at the east parking lot on Main Street. The parade will be down Main to the Bernie Schools.
The festivities then move to Bernie City Park where there will be the OK Kids' Corral, entertainment, arts and crafts booths, a food court, pageants and prize give-aways throughout the afternoon.
Native Pierce will be returning for Fall Fest from Nashville, Tenn. Over the last few years Pierce has released two albums and several singles that have hit the charts. He is currently working on his next record that is set to be released later this year. He performed at the CMA Music Festival held in June in Nashville.
Teresa Slinkard, chairperson of Fall Fest, said this year a 25' X 20' stage will be set up to accommodate the full band being brought in by Pierce. He is to perform at 3:30 p.m. Other performers who will take the stage prior to Pierce are Rita and Larry Speight, Dave Fowler and Friends, Kristen Stevens and Alex Beaird. Also, the Bernie Line Dancers will be performing throughout the park during the afternoon.
The OK Kid's Corral will again feature lots of activities for children. Horse and pony rides will be available and a hayride is slated. The big slide and other inflatable equipment will again be set up for the youngsters.
Jared Smith, a former DJ in Cape Girardeau, will be the emcee for Fall Fest. He will be giving away door prizes throughout the event. The Fall Fest Committee is holding a raffle for a 50-inch television donated by Cecil and Myra Weeks and a handmade quilt made by Judy Zoll. Larry and Bonnie Logan will serve as Grand Marshals.
Fall Fest pageants will begin at noon, with many divisions for all ages. Registration may be made at the event.
First Community Bank of Bernie will be sponsoring the Fall Fest 5K. The 5K starts at 7 a.m., at the City Park. Race day registration precedes the 5K at the west pavilion at the park. A Fitbit (a fitness tracker) will be given to the top finishing male and top female in the race.