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Shades of Fall brings crowd downtown on a sunny Saturday

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Sam Cook presses apple cider while Nicole Jore tosses apples into the 50-year-old cider press, owned by Cook’s grandfather, Tom Cook.
News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Autumn Bildson carves a pumpkin during Shades of Fall on Saturday in downtown Alpena.
News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Aaron Smalley serves pork belly chowder to Karol Walchak, left, and Jackie Witter during the Chili-Chowder Cookoff in downtown Alpena on Saturday. Red Brick Tap & Barrel’s pork belly chowder won best chowder in the cookoff.
News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Zane Kipfmiller serves butternut squash chili to Michael Emberton during the Chili-Chowder Cookoff on Saturday in downtown Alpena. Kipfmiller’s Produce & Meats won best chili for their savory butternut chili, which also won most creative recipe. The Mountain Bar and Grill won most spirited booth, and the People’s Choice award went to Blue Moon Cafe for their chicken and aundouille chowder.
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Chico and The Man enjoy a rest at a picnic table downtown on Saturday. (The Man is Jim Spencer.)
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Job Kakish accepts the Top Dog trophy from Bob LeFevre in front of Bob’s Bullpen on Saturday. Kakish downed 11 chili dogs in 10 minutes. After winning the contest, Kakish said he felt lightheaded. “I just came here for lunch and ended up eating 11 chili dogs,” he said with a laugh. “This is going to be a yearly thing,” LeFevre said. “I think it goes along really well with what’s happening downtown.”
News Photo by Darby Hinkley From left to right, Retro Steve from Noise & Toys, Jeremy Buse, Charles McCormick, and Patrick Atwell participate in the chili dog eating contest.
News Photo by Darby Hinkley From left, Patrick Atwell, Riley Gazo, 9, Carter Kakish, 10, and his dad Job Kakish chow down in the chili dog eating contest, put on by Bob’s Bullpen and the Bull Dog cafe, attached to Bob’s Bullpen.

ALPENA ­– A crowd came to the Downtown Development Authority’s Chili-Chowder Cookoff on Saturday in downtown Alpena. The event was held in conjunction with Shades of Fall, Thunder Bay Arts’ fall family fest, featuring pumpkin bowling, popcorn, a cider-making demonstration, sidewalk chalk, a hay ride, live music, a scarecrow competition, and more. Then, the Fresh Palate’s Sunrise Suds Tap Takeover was also held downtown, with live bands and craft breweries from across the state.

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