Downtown Dexter -  The action was fun and exciting in Downtown Dexter this weekend as the Annual Historic Downtown Dexter Fall Fest was in full swing.  The streets were filled with individuals, music groups, local businesses, vendors, and area civic groups providing goods for sale, contests for fun, and lots of laughs for area residents.

The event is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Dexter Association, a group organized to preserve the vitality and beauty of the community's downtown area.  The HDDA has worked for years to maintain local businesses and shoppers connected to the downtown area.  Events such as the Historic Downtown Dexter Fall Fest help to increase the exposure and patronage of these businesses.

The event attracts those downtown businesses as well as others, who set up tents and booths to display their products and to share their products with attendees.

Challenged by rainy weekends throughout the fall of '12, the event was fortunate to catch a beautiful 80 degree day.  Though a busy weekend with many events going on in the community, the crowds responded to the weather and came out in large numbers in support of the event.

From churches to businesses to local high school students, everyone gets involved with the Fall Fest activities.  Pastor Steve Easterwood, pastor at the First Baptist Church, was on hand to share his artistic talents with those passing by as he painted downtown scenes of the event. 

The Heartland Quilt Guild also had their crafts displayed at the event on Saturday.  The club raffled off a beautiful hand quilted piece that was a group project by local members.  A small section of the quilt was assigned to members and then brought together to form one full quilt.  The sale of the raffle tickets went to benefit local charities. 

One of the more exciting events held each year is the infamous 3rd Annual Real Living Pie Eating Contest.  The Young Realty team drafts several local political figures and community leaders to become involved in the contest at high noon.  The contestants then drape themselves in plastic, pin their hair back, and aggressively compete to become the annual pie eating champion. 

This is a serious competition as the winner of the men's and women's division each with $500 toward their favorite charity.  Kim Degney was the women's winner choosing Parents As Teachers as her charity.  The men's winner was Lee Watson, who donated his winnings to the Christmas Toy Fund.



It was certainly easy to see the excitement and fun built around the Fall Fest event.  Be sure to consider next year your chance to get involved with the Historic Downtown Dexter Association.  Your support and involvement with this group helps to keep Dexter strong.

SMT would like to thank Marrianne Bruce for submitting the photos from the event.