The city of Warren embraced the autumn season with its first-ever Fall Foliage Festival, drawing crowds to the downtown area for a range of family-friendly activities, October 11th and 12th.

Kassie Damcott from the City of Warren Department of Public Works explained that the festival is part of the city’s comprehensive plan to engage the community. “This is our first Fall Foliage Fest as part of the City of Warren’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force. It was really nice to start our first festival with a lot of kids and lots of people dressed up in costumes. Hopefully, we can do this every year. It would be nice to organize something annually that people want to be a part of,” Damcott said.

The festival featured sales and specials at local businesses and restaurants, along with events like the popular Trail of Treats, where children dressed in costumes collected goodies from participating shops.

Visitors also had the opportunity to take self-guided tours of Warren’s historic downtown, enjoying the fall weather and the city’s charm.

City Councilwoman Danielle Flasher was thrilled with the turnout. “It’s so exciting to see everyone come out. The weather has been beautiful, and it’s great to see all the organizations coming together and spreading information. It’s wonderful to have something for our families and kids to do in the community,” she said.

Local law enforcement also participated, using the event as a way to strengthen community ties. Detective Tiffany Post from the City of Warren Police Department noted, “This is a great opportunity for us to engage with the children within the community we serve. That way, they can get to know us, and if we have to respond to any incidents, they’re okay with talking to us.”

The event left a strong impression on local youth, with Payton, Adaline, Hayden, and Reagan from Molly Dies Express Dancers describing their experience on the Trail of Treats as “super fun.”

As the fall season continues, the city looks forward to building on the festival’s success for future events.

The Warren Area Student Union’s 25th annual Haunted House, which opened during the festival, will continue running through Halloween, offering more seasonal fun.

For more information on upcoming events and the City of Warren’s Comprehensive Task Force, visit here.