It's here. It's finally here. The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival is back this week for the 101st time. Over the course of six days, tens of thousands of people from around the Tri-State will make their way to the four-block stretch of Franklin Street between St. Joe and Wabash Avenue of Flags to chow down on hundreds of food items being whipped up by local non-profit organizations, ride the variety of rides, or try to win a prize at one of the several games of skill in the midway. Due to the large number of people expected to attend each day, the Evansville Police Department has offered a number of safety tips to help you and everyone else have an enjoyable time.

Evansville Police Department Safety Tips for the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival

It doesn't take long for Franklin Street to fill up with a sea of people moving in all directions every day of the Festival. At times, it can be a little difficult to navigate, especially when you have your kids with you. Part of your focus is trying to navigate the crowd while the other part is also trying to keep an eye on your child to make sure they don't get separated from you. To try and minimize the chance of that happening, the EPD suggests the following:

  • Talk to your kids about the number of people who will be at the Festival before you get there, and that there will be several members of law enforcement from both the Evansville Police and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office on site they can talk to if they do get lost.
  • Once you get to the Festival, point out the officers and deputies, as well as Nut Club members so they know who they can talk to.
  • Take a picture of your kid(s) with your phone when you get there you can show law enforcement and Club members in case you do get separated.
  • Put your contact info on a piece of paper and put it in your child's pocket.
  • If you have older kids and are comfortable with them exploring on their own, set a meeting time and location before going your separate ways, and check with them by calling or texting every 15-30 minutes.
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Other Fall Festival Safety Tips from the Evansville Police Department

Parking is always an adventure when making a trip to the Fall Festival. Several non-profit organizations offer paid parking in locations all around Franklin Street, or you can try to find a spot on one of the many side streets. Whatever you choose, the EPD suggests finding a land marker, building, or "something familiar" in the area where you parked so you're not wandering around in the dark for a long period of time. It may also not be a bad idea to take a picture of where you parked or the closest street sign to help you remember.

Of course, you'll also want to make sure you lock your vehicle and hide any valuables you leave in it.

The EPD also suggests wearing "reflective or bright colored clothing" so you're easier to see as your making your way back to your car after the sun goes down.

Finally, while the forecast is looking nearly perfect for the week, with sunny skies, highs in the low-to-mid 70s, and lows in the upper 50s, it's important to make sure you stay hydrated since you will be walking around in a sea of people with the sun beating down on you. So, be sure to grab a bottle of water every once in a while between jugs of apple cider.

 

Items Not Allowed at the Fall Festival

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All you really need to have a great time at the Fall Festival is your wallet and some cash (unless you have a baby or a small child, then obviously you'll need to bring their necessities). But, it's good to know the following items are not allowed on Franklin Street this week in case you're thinking about taking them.

  • Animals with the exception of service animals
  • Glass Bottles/Jars/Containers
  • Squirt Guns of any type/Water Balloons
  • Bicycles/Scooters/Skateboards/Roller-Blade
  • Drones
  • Fireworks
  • Halloween masks

Enjoy your time on Franklin Street this week, and if you want to map out what food you want to get before you head down there, be sure to grab this year's Munchie Map.

Evansville's Fall Festival Survival Guide

We've put together a guide to help you enjoy (and survive!) Evansville's annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival on Franklin Street - the 2nd Largest Street Festival in the Country!

See How the West Side Nut Club Cleans Up After the Fall Festival

Nearly every one of the 300 active Club members jumps into action early Sunday morning to start tearing down and clean up the mess left behind by the thousands of attendees over the course of the six-day event. But, it's far more than just picking up trash.

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