Come downtown on Saturday

Winsted’s annual Fall Foliage Festival is always a treat, but this year’s festival will have an added kick, as organizers will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Frontier Days, which honored Winsted’s recovery from the Great Flood of 1955. (See photo pages A6 and A7.) This is one of many reasons to come downtown on Saturday.

Local businesses and vendors from out of town will line the streets Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and live music will be performed throughout the day. Local merchants will serve food and refreshments.

With 2008 being an election year, plan on seeing the faces of Winsted-area candidates for state Legislative seats this November. Democratic incumbent George Wilber and Republican John Rigby, both of Colebrook, are vying for the 63rd District House of Representatives seat, while Republican Sen. Andrew Roraback is being challenged in the 30th District by Democratic Selectman Michael Renzullo of Winsted. You may even spot Winsted native and presidential candidate Ralph Nader at the festival.

The Winsted Journal and Friends of Main Street have teamed up to offer commemorative wooden coins at this year’s Fall Foliage Festival. The coins will be good for discounts and prizes at the festival, including a discounted subscription to the newspaper. The coins have been distributed to downtown businesses and are available Saturday at The Journal’s office at 452 Main St., at the entrance to the annual Winsted Elks Classic and Antique Car Show.

And speaking of the car show, plan on seeing a stunning array of autos at Saturday’s event. Organizers expect to see as many as 200 cars roll into Winsted.

In all, the Fall Foliage Festival is an event that is not to be missed. Get your family and friends together and head down to Main Street to join in the celebration.