Horses trotted past Eastway on Oct. 17 to the sound of steel drums at what would become one of the best-attended Fall Fest’s yet. 

Melissa Williams, a junior psychology major, sat with her friend listening to the Calypso, the steel drum band, during her third Kent State Fall Fest. 

“It’s even better than last year,” Williams said. “I love seeing the horses walking around. The line looks super long, but seeing them is good enough, they’re super cute.”

Fall Fest is hosted annually by the Flash Activities Board. This year included a horse-drawn carriage ride, s’more making, live music, a farmers market, crafts and free giveaways. 

Lucille Schneider, president of the Flash Activities Board, said Fall Fest is about making something students enjoy. 

“The vibe is just fun fall vibes. It’s kind of all over the place because we’ve got the [steel drum band] but there’s also bonfires and s’mores,” Schneider said. “We just wanted to make something that’s really fun and upbeat for students in the middle of fall.”

Schneider said there were significantly more students than in previous years. She attributed the boosted attendance to the Haymaker Farmers’ Market, which hadn’t been at previous Fall Fests. 

“We’ve never worked with the farmers’ market before for it, so they actually brought a lot of people too, and it was a really great collaboration between us and the farmers market,” Schneider said. 

Andrew Rome, director of the Haymaker Farmers’ Market, said the farmers’ market had been trying to find more vendors that appeal to college students. 

“We’ve got a vendor selling succulents that may be good for a dorm room and fall themes,” Rome said. “We have a different mix of vendors every time we do the farmers market. We’re still trying to figure out what’s the best fit for the market on campus.”

Daisy Hall, a junior economics major, said she was impressed at how much there was to do without breaking the bank. 

“There’s a lot more people than I was expecting. Everything I’ve seen has been pretty affordable for college students, I have a baguette that was three dollars,” Hall said. “We got free mugs and there was a photo booth, so it was pretty fun. I really like the array of things and I’m so happy that it’s here.”

Fall Fest kicked off a string of events centering around fall and leading up to Halloween including:

• The Kent Stage features Halloween events through their ghost walks, including a seance with a spiritual medium on Oct. 31. 
• FAB will host a “Pumpkin and Potions” event on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
• Flashes Trick-or-Treat will take place through the KSU Student Center and Library on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

Andrew Bowie is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].