A Couple of Fall Festivals in the District:

I love just about everything autumnal. The colors, the crisp air, the school supply shopping, the massive collective death of mosquitoes, not feeling like the entire interior of my house has been coated in the rubber cement-like sheen of humidity. I especially love the many fall events that take place when people get off their Jet-skis, put away the lawnmower, rinse off the chlorine and get down to business.

The deadline for registration for the 28th Annual Monona Grove Businessmen's Association Chili Cook-off is this Friday, September 17th. The event itself will be held at 10am on October 2nd at the AmericInn, 101 West Broadway. For more information click here.

And there's more than just chili... Lioness Raffle and Bake Sale, Classic Car Show, Pony and Horse Rides, Face Painting, Live Music by Chameleon (Classic Rock), Food (Chili, Chili Dogs, Hotdogs, Brats and Snacks), Beer, Soft Drinks, Bottled Water, Babcock Hall Ice Cream

After the chili cook-off, stop by on October 2nd for the annual Cottage Grove PTO Fall Festival. The Festival, a long-time community favorite and phenomenal fundraiser for our kids and community schools, will be held at Taylor Prairie from 10 am - 4 pm.

Taken from Cottage Grove Elementary PTO President Jennifer Pickel's blog:

"There will be games, food, a silent auction and, back by popular demand - a raffle. There will also be a Silly String Corral where kids and teachers will be able to have a good-natured silly string fight! The Monona Grove football players will be running a football toss game and the Monona Grove Pom Squad will be painting faces from 12-3. The EMS team will also be on sight to do some community education! New this year will be themed baskets created by each classroom. These baskets will be available at the Fall Festival, so be sure to come on over and check them out!!This year, the Cottage Grove PTO will continue it's campaign to raise money for Smart Boards. Please mark your calendars and join us for this fantastic event!! See you then!!"

The Cottage Grove PTO has already provided numerous Smart Boards to our schools through their wonderful fundraising. Thank you for all that you do!

Please plan on attending the Monona Family Fall Festival on September 26th at Winnequah Park from 2 to 5pm. This will be the third year that the Monona Family Attraction and Retention Committee has organized this event and it has steadily grown in both size and popularity. I am particularly excited that this year we will be having free hand-led pony rides throughout the park! Who doesn't love a pony ride?


The Festival will begin at 2pm sharp at the M.Y. Dream Park for a pumpkin scavenger hunt. Don't be late or you will miss out on all the fun! Afterward plan to stay to enjoy many local vendors, music from Monona Public Library's Andy Nath and his band the Banned Wagon, storytelling by Monona Children's Librarian Karen Wendt, balloon animals, a petting zoo and fall crafts and games. We are also pleased to have Rutabaga giving kayak rides on the lagoon this year. And back by popular demand: the alpacas from Forest Academy Alpacas! Check out the festival on our city website http://www.mymonona.com/ .

The rain location is the Monona Community Center, but we're not even going to think about the possibility of rain. Not gonna happen.