The 11th Annual Cider Days,presented by Great Southern, will be held on Historic Walnut Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 20 & 21, 2008 in Downtown Springfield. This two-day fall festival will feature regional artists and crafters, three performance stages, a free hands-on children’s area with inflatable’s, a Scarecrow Village, Commercial Street Loft Walk, vintage cars and much more! Admission is $4 per person; children 10 and under are free. Last year’s event attracted more than 15,000 individuals to the annual celebration.

Artists and crafters from across the region exhibit at Cider Days, selling a variety of handmade products. Artwork sold during past festivals include Raku-fired clay pieces, hand-dyed silk scarves, paper Christmas ornaments, preserved hydrangea, painted pumpkins, candles and much more. All artwork is reviewed in advance to ensure quality. To download an Artist Application for Cider Days, please click here.

Throughout the two days, artists can often be found demonstrating the various arts and crafts at their individual booths. Activities will include mask making, watercolor painting, chalk drawings, beaded jewelry, card making and inflatables for the children to play in.

Each year, more than 300 individual performers showcase their artistic skills on three Cider Days performance stages including the Bandstand Stage, Showwagon Stage and “Music at the Inn” Stage. The festival features local and regional talent including musicians, dancers, singers and more.

One of the festival’s most creative displays is the “Row of Crows” also known as The Scarecrow Village. The village, located just east of the intersection of Walnut Street and John Q. Hammons Parkway, consists of multiple scarecrows designed by area businesses, service groups, churches, youth groups, schools and individuals. The scarecrows serve to heighten community awareness of various local groups and services, as well as provide an opportunity for the community to unite and share creative energy, spirit and pride. Cash prizes will be awarded at the festival in the following categories: Best of Show, Most Humorous, Most Creative, Best Use of Recycled Materials and Best Named Scarecrow. Entering a scarecrow is free, fun and open to everyone. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. For a Scarecrow Village application, please click here.

While visiting Cider Days take some time to explore downtown Springfield. Fisk Limousines will be providing free shuttle rides to and from the downtown shopping district from on Saturday, September 20 from 11 am to 3 p.m. It's a great time to visit Cider Days and downtown Springfield and only parking once!

Cider Days will also include a new feature, the Eleventh Annual Commercial Street Loft Walk to be held on Sunday, September 21 from Noon to 6 p.m. This is a self-guided tour of six exciting uptown lofts within a few blocks of one another. Experience the urban lifestyle enjoyed by residents of all ages and professions living it up in these restored, eclectic and edgy spaces. Loft Walk tickets will be offered to Cider Days attendees at the advanced sale price of $10. Fisk Limousines will be providing free shuttle rides to and from Commercial Street from Noon to 5 p.m. For more information or to reserve your tickets, please contact 417-864-7015.

In addition to the festivities on Historic Walnut Street, join the City of Springfield at An Evening at Cider Days in Jordan Valley Park for a free concert. The concert will be held the evening of Saturday, Sept. 20, beginning at 7 p.m. This event is part of the ongoing free or low-cost concerts in Center City, presented by the City of Springfield and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, and is a part of the Cider Days weekend of activities.

Cider Days is presented by the Historic Walnut Street Association, and managed by the Urban Districts Alliance. For more information, contact: 417-831-6200.