Fall festival and costume parade held in Thompson Falls

Little goblins and ghouls haunted Ainsworth Park in Thompson Falls this past Saturday during the Fall Festival, which is celebrating its fourth year. 

Organizers Annie Wooden and Kayla Mosher, members of the Thompson Falls Main Street organization and the Sanders County Chamber of Commerce, were instrumental in organizing the event. 

This year the Forest Service joined the festival which included twelve venders and a host of costume-class youngsters. 

“This is a fun way to get families out and promote our community,” Wooden said. 

Wooden made the comment while passing out colorful stickers for the almost 200 kids that attended the event with their families.  

A well-attended costume contest displayed a host of creative Halloween characters. The first-place winner this year was a creative baby in a flower pot won by 6-month-old Hans Berger from Thompson Falls, along with the proud parents Kaelene and Jacob Berger. 

Kaelene Berger said, “I like that they have a costume parade. It’s a fun thing for the kids to do.” 

New this year is playground equipment that has been installed in the corner of the park. Additional equipment for young visitors has been completed near the bathrooms. Donated by Montana Dakota Service, Inc of Thompson Falls, at a cost close to $100,000, with an additional sum of $10,000 for maintenance. 

Local contractors Rick Sorlie, Chad Pardee, Ben Traver and Curt Kegel volunteered to help with the installation and site work.

    New playground equipment in Thompson Falls' Ainsworth Park donated by Montana Dakota Services Inc. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)