By Heather Wood

Fall has arrived! ‘Tis the time for pumpkin, spice and everything nice! Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love the beautiful foliage, the food, fall sports, and décor! A particular favorite of mine is pumpkin. As you will see, Kernersville Parks & Recreation knows that pumpkins are for much more than jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin pie, and the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte. As we immerse ourselves into this lovely season and fall under its magical spell, let’s take a peek at what is offered this autumn!

Gather up the family for this enjoyable fall event! We are excited to host the 2016 Kernersville Pumpkin Run 5K & 1-Mile Walk on Saturday, October 22. All ages are invited to walk or run the 5K or 1-mile course that starts in Fourth of July Park and circles through the adjacent neighborhood. This event promotes health and fitness while having fun! Participants are encouraged to come in costume for the festive occasion. The annual Pumpkin Run features vendors/exhibitors, live entertainment, kid’s activities, a costume contest for adults, children and dogs with prizes and pumpkins! Registration is wide open at www.KVParks.com. Early bird registration ends October 15. Registration for ages 18+ includes a spooky race day t-shirt, a goodie bag, and snacks! Ages 5-17 will receive a medal of completion! Ages 4 and under, and dogs are welcome to run or walk – for FREE.

The Downtown Trick-or-Treat is a public service provided by the downtown merchants, the Kernersville Parks & Recreation and Kernersville Police Departments, and the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce. The group will host their annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, October 31 from 6-8 p.m. Downtown Trick-or-Treat is an alternative to door-to-door trick or treating for families and children 13 and under. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult. Watch the streets of downtown Kernersville become a Halloween Haven! Goodies will be handed-out by merchants and we will have ghoulish fun, music, and more! Families are encouraged to come out early to enjoy downtown before the trick-or-treating begins. Dine at a restaurant or shop in a local store before the fun starts! Whether you are a spooky ghost or a sparkly princess, be sure to look your best! This is a free event and a great way for merchants and the community to come together in a safe environment.

The NCHSAA will return once again to Kernersville for its sixth consecutive year to host the Invitational, Regional, and State Cross Country Meets at 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 & Recreation Maintenance staff spends many hours prepping and conditioning the Cross Country Course so it will be in pristine condition for these meets. 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!

Last month the Town of Kernersville, along with many local residents, joined together in Fourth of July Park on Sunday, September 11 for the Dedication Ceremony for the newly planted 9/11 Living Memorial Tree. The tree started as an acorn from Ground Zero and has traveled through several states, and touched the hearts of many people. During its journey, it grew to be a very special tree, and it was eventually decided to permanently plant it here in Kernersville.

“The vision is to create a Memorial within the Town of Kernersville area to honor the Public Safety Personnel who have given their lives in the performance of their duties; to honor those individuals that were injured and/or disabled while performing their duties; to acknowledge with great appreciation the personnel currently employed; and also, to honor the retired Public Safety Personnel. We are proud to honor each of them for their selfless dedication, with the well-deserved assurance that their sacrifices are recognized and appreciated and will never be forgotten. We want each of you to know how very thankful we are for you, and for your dedication and service.”

Get outside and enjoy… “It’s Fall Ya’ll!”