"As a nonprofit, GEARS appreciates all the great things the community does for us," said Lee Eckert, program coordinator. "We love doing big activities for everyone as a way of saying thank you to the community for supporting us all year." GEARS will host the 12th annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Elizabethtown Fairgrounds, 900 E. High St.

The Fall Festival will have something for people of all ages, Eckert noted. "Our barrel train is back this year, and that's always popular with kids," he stated. "New this year, our senior center will be running bingo out of ag hall. We're really looking forward to that."

GEARS will again partner with members of Elizabethtown Area Middle School's Student Council, who will offer a variety of free yard games. Elizabethtown College students will provide several free activities, including Halloween bookmarks, leaf crafts and sand art bracelets. Members of the Elizabethtown College wrestling team will operate a haunted barn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. "That's for all ages, so they'll change the experience depending on if a little kid is going through or a high-schooler is going through," Eckert said.

A variety of inflatables will be on-site, including a slide, a bounce house and a basketball hoop. "This year, we're having an inflatable obstacle course as well," Eckert remarked. Wristbands may be purchased for all-day access to the inflatables and will include the opportunity to paint a pumpkin. Additional activities will include balloon art from The Balunguy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., pumpkin golf and hayrides.

The Elizabethtown Area High School basketball team will operate a concession stand, and Hitch Coffee and Fuego Latino will be on-site with food trucks. The Kids Center at GEARS will host a chicken barbecue at the Fall Festival, with tickets available for purchase at GEARS in advance or on-site on the day of the festival. Each meal will include a half-chicken, a baked potato, a roll, applesauce and a dessert.

The Elizabethtown Fire Department will have fire trucks on-site, and a variety of vendors and information booths will be set up.

"We really want to thank the Elizabethtown School District and fairgrounds for use of the facility," Eckert said, noting that Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church also provides use of its parking lot for the festival. Members 1st Federal Credit Union is the event sponsor, he said, and he expressed thanks to the Elizabethtown Police Department and fire police for their support of the festival.

"It's really cool to be able to do an event where you can come a spend a little money if you're able to or you can just do all the free things," Eckert said, noting that the Fall Festival would not be possible without the groups that partner with GEARS. "It's great when the community comes together, and everybody is on the same page to offer a fun event for the community."

For more information on the Fall Festival, visit http://www.geatintogears.org. To purchase tickets for the chicken barbecue, email wendymusser@getintogears.org, call 717-367-0119 or stop by the GEARS Kids Center office, 70 S. Poplar St, Elizabethtown.