By  Heather Wood

“Life Starts All Over Again When It Gets Crisp In The Fall” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

My favorite month of the entire year is October.  To me, nothing is better than crisp air, jumping in crunchy leaves, the smell of apples, cinnamon… and pumpkin everything!  As much as I enjoy the hot weather in the summer, I always look forward to fall.

One of the best things about the fall is the feeling of “newness” that seems to come with it every year.  Everyone is back on a schedule, the air smells fresh, and moods start transitioning into a new season and rejuvenation.  People seem renewed in the fall.  Be sure to check out our new Fall Leisure Guide available in local businesses and online.  Plus, there are so many fun things to do and so many delicious foods to eat (ahem, pumpkin pie and turkey)!  You can also make the most of October with these fun and healthy events!

Kernersville Parks & Recreation is excited to offer a 5K Pumpkin Run & 1-Mile Run/Walk on October 24, 2015 in Fourth of July Park.  The purpose of this event is to raise community awareness about health and safety while supporting the efforts of Kernersville Parks and Recreation.

This is not your typical running event!  We promise to provide complete fun for the entire family with not only the run but music, medals for all participating kids, prizes, giveaways, a costume contest, and more!  The event incorporates a Halloween Theme and you are invited to join us in costume to inspire, inform, and support Kernersville Parks and Recreation in our efforts to inspire our community to pursue a healthier lifestyle.  To register and for pricing information, visit www.toknc.com/pr.  All ages are encouraged to register, even your family dog!  Runners will receive a goodie bag and a race t-shirt.

Businesses and non-profits are welcome to join in on the fun, and we welcome your participation at the runs Health and Safety Expo.  Vendors, this will provide a great opportunity to promote your business or organization while supporting health and safety programs through Kernersville Parks and Recreation.

Our goal is to have 200 people of all ages registered for the run/walk.  To help us meet this goal and ensure a successful event, we ask you to invite family and friends to participate.  Vendors are encouraged to provide promotional giveaways, coupons, interactive activities for children, health screenings, etc. at your booth.  There will be drawings for prizes in the Expo area.  Vendor applications will be taken on a first come-first served basis and will be vetted to ensure diversity of the booths.  To inquire about a booth space please contact Brandi Lineberry at 336-992-0806.  All applications must be submitted by October 16, 2015.

The Kernersville Sister City Association, in conjunction with Ardmore Baptist Church, is proud to present a cultural experience in concert with the world renowned pianist Ms. Tzu-yi Chen.  Ms. Tzu-yi Chen comes to us by way of her native country Taiwan, having performed in various places in Europe, the United States (including Carnegie Hall), France, Germany, Russia, and South America.  She currently lives in Virginia but is a “true citizen of the world.”  Do not miss the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Tzu-yi Chen on Sunday, October 18, from 3:00-4:30pm with a VIP reception to follow.  Tickets may be obtained online through Brown Paper Tickets.

The NCHSAA will return to Kernersville for its fifth consecutive year to host their Invitational, Regional, and State Cross Country Meets at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.  This is a huge event and draws many spectators to Kernersville during the months of October and November.  There are four high school conference levels, representing 64 teams total.  The Kernersville Parks and Recreation Maintenance staff spends many hours prepping and conditioning the cross country course so it will be in pristine condition for the Meets.  The Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex has undertaken many new aesthetic renovations including new fencing, landscaping, and course repair to improve the overall quality of the park.  The top four teams in each classification at the regional level will qualify for the state event.  In addition, the top five individuals not on a qualifying team advance from the regional to the state.  This is always an exciting time of year, as this is a large revenue generator for Kernersville.

Come trick-or-treat through Downtown Kernersville on Saturday, October 31.  The Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat is a special event designed just for children (ages 13 and under) and their parents.  Bring your goodie bag to use for trick-or-treating, then creep your way throughout downtown and see all of the friendly characters that will line the streets and fill your bag with candy.

The business owners in Downtown love to see all of the cute costumes and put a smile on each child’s face as they say “Trick-or-Treat.”  Map of participating businesses will be posted in the downtown merchant windows prior to the event.  While receiving candy, listen to a live band provided by Main Street Baptist Church, watch Captain Jim perform his magical tricks, play various games, and see a mock jail demonstration by the Kernersville Police Department.

Join local businesses and volunteers participating in Downtown Trick-or-Treat for a fun and safe community Halloween for the entire family.  Prepare for a hauntingly “ghould” time from 6:00 – 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31st as the scary, the cute, the ugly, and the creepy descend upon Downtown Kernersville.