Courtesy Photo A scarecrow stands in a wheat field. Thunder Bay Arts is hosting a scarecrow competition, with voting Oct. 1.

ALPENA — Autumnal activities are amping up in Alpena.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Shades of Fall will crop up downtown, with a community-wide scarecrow competition, a chowder and chili cookoff, a beer festival, a chili dog eating contest, and much more. The fun extends to Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, which will be hosting its Fall Harvest Fossil Fest from noon to 4 p.m.

“The whole idea of Shades of Fall is that we highlight the diversity of organizations and activities that are happening,” said Thunder Bay Arts representative Tim Kuehnlein. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody.”

Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry said the collaboration among event organizers was beneficial and should lead to more successful events for everyone involved, now and into the future.

“We always try to extend tourism and people enjoying our downtown area into the fall,” Gentry said. “Summer’s the big one, but we’re hoping people will come out, enjoy the events, and hopefully stop in and do some shopping, and grab dinner while they’re downtown, too.”

Scarecrow Contest

Thunder Bay Arts is hosting the scarecrow competition, which is still open for entries now through 6 p.m. on Friday. To register, call the TBA office at 989-356-6678 or email office@thunderbayarts.org. Deliver your finished scarecrow to the TBA office/gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday. TBA will install the scarecrows at locations throughout downtown, where they will remain until Nov. 1.

Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to join the competition, get creative, and have fun.

On Friday, the community will get a chance to vote for their favorite scarecrow by 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first place in each of the following categories:

¯ $100 Fresh Palate gift certificate for individuals;

¯ $100 in Downtown Dollars for families;

¯ $100 off a 2023 Ice Fest sculpture for businesses; and

¯ $100 off a 2023 Ice Fest sculpture for organizations.

Scarecrows must be no more than 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide on a broom handle-sized stick/post that can be tied to a lamp post or tree and tolerate the weather for four weeks.

Family Fun

TBA is offering family-friendly activities downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a cider press demonstration, donut holes and cider, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, sidewalk chalk, pumpkin bean bag toss, apple painting, scarecrow photo opportunities, popcorn, hay rides, and live pumpkin carving by Jimmy Chen and Autumn Bildson.

Live music will be provided by Chris Crown, Gary Weisenburg, and Joel Choate.

Nicolet Bank is a major financial sponsor of Shades of Fall.

Chowder/Chili Cookoff

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority will host a chowder and chili cookoff from noon to 2 p.m. in conjunction with Shades of Fall. Registration for the event can be found on the DDA’s website at https://www.downtownalpenami.com. Those that enter will have a chance to win one of the following prizes: Best in Show — People’s Choice ($250); Best Chili ($200); Best Chowder ($200); Most Spirited Booth ($100); and Most Creative Recipe ($100).

For more information, email downtownalpenami@gmail.com.

Chili Dog Contest

“Who Will Be Top Dog?”

A chili dog eating contest will be held at 1 p.m. at The Bulldog, the restaurant attached to Bob’s Bullpen, in downtown Alpena.

Weather permitting, the contest will take place outside on the patio facing 2nd Avenue.

The $10 entry fee pays for all the chili dogs you can eat in 10 minutes.

Sign up at the Bullpen to get a spot in the contest. All contestants will get gift certificates to the Bullpen for future visits that pay for the entry fee. Finalists will get official shirts.

The winner will get his picture taken with the trophy and his name posted on a plaque. Both will be displayed in the restaurant. This is planned to become an annual event.

Beer Festival

Also downtown, Sunrise Suds Tap Takeover will, for the fifth year, feature over a variety of Michigan breweries and live music. Craft beer from over 20 breweries will be featured, with more than 60 brews for adults 21 and up to try.

Music will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until midnight. Bands include The Hipnotones, Mercier, Scholastic News, Citrus Orange, Chris Crown and the Get Down Band, State the Odds, Radio Free Honduras, and HWT.

Music ranges from blues to jazz to reggae to rock.

Fossil Fest at Museum

Speaking of rocks, the Besser Museum Fall Harvest Fossil Festival will feature unique crafters and rock vendors, including Jordan and Zara Pride from Michigan Gems, and Rod Olson and Suzan Scott from Rock Retrievers.

Visitors can also hunt for fossils in the museum’s fossil park and learn how to identify a variety of common fossils found in our region.

Museum admission is $5 per adult, $3 per senior or child, or free to members. Planetarium shows will be offered for $1 each, to view “Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?”

Young children will be able to pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

Visitors can also tour the historic buildings behind the museum, and board the 1928 Katherine V and Chinook Research Vessel. The Girl Scouts of St. Paul Lutheran Church will lead old-fashioned games, crafts, and sing-a-longs in the 1912 Spratt Church.

Marianne Fairbanks of Recollections will have her Victorian and Edwardian fashions on display.