The streets of historic downtown Wooster come alive with festivities as Woosterfest unfolds Sept. 28-29. Residents and visitors can welcome autumn with a festival that has been a community tradition for 28 years.

Arts and craft vendors will line the streets and a farmers market will offer seasonal produce and locally-produced products that celebrate the region on Friday, Sept. 28, from noon to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fair-style food and beverages will also be available.

The cornhole tournament is as much fun to watch as it is to play and gets underway at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28. Morrison Custom Welding sponsors the competition that is open to 32 teams. Players must be 21 to enter and deadline for registration is August 24.

Wooster’s own Talent Show will hold auditions August 30 and Sept. 4 at the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, 377 West Liberty St., to determine who indeed has talent and can perform in the festival competition on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. Sponsored by Clear Picture, Inc. and Massillon Cable TV, Inc., the talent competition is open to amateurs of all ages as long as they have not won the completion more than one other time in past years.

The friendly and fast-paced competition of the Beer Stein Race begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. Four team members do their best to carry six beer steins down the race lane to fill a barrel faster than their opponents. Sponsored by Bowman Beverage, the first, second and third place winners win bragging rights, beer tokens and other terrific prizes. All participants get a T-shirt.

Kids can keep busy at Kinderplatz, an area designated just for them with games and activities suitable for youngsters. Kinderplatz is sponsored by Sprenger Health Care Systems and the University of Akron Wayne College. Kinderplatz will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Memories will certainly be stirred when visitors enjoy the Classic Car Show on display both days of the festival. The show is sponsored by LuK USA LLC and will feature makes and models from a time when the automobile was king and a Sunday drive was a family event.

Lovers of live music will appreciate two stages for their listening pleasure. The Battle of the Band winners will be featured on the side stage Friday night and the main stage will have local favorites Close Pursuit and Red Ball Jets.

Michael Kelsey will play the side stage on Saturday and Atomic Lounge and DTz will be rocking the main stage until the close of the festival at 11 p.m.

New to Woosterfest this year will be the Stein Holding Contest. If you think carrying a stein full of beer is difficult, trying standing with a full one, arm outstretched. Pure will and determination will allow the winner of this new event to hold the title of first-time champion.

“Woosterfest is more than just a free family event, it has become a tradition,” said Samira Zimmerly, project coordinator for the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce. “Some people that came as kids are now bringing their kids. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the downtown while listening to great entertainment, eating delicious food, browsing the classic cars and arts and crafts, while the kids enjoy the free children’s activities.”

With so much to do at Woosterfest this fall, it would be worth an overnight stay to truly appreciate all this progressive community has to offer.

For more information about Woosterfest, contact Zimmerly at 330-262-5735 or via email at szimmerly@woosterchamber.com.