GREENVILLE — Darke County will showcase the eighth annual Fall into Christmas Food Truck Rally & Craft Show on Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Great Darke County Fairgrounds, 800 Sweitzer St., Greenville. The food truck rally and craft show will be a celebration of local, small businesses. The event will be rain or shine with free admission to the craft show. There is $5 for parking and proceeds will help Solid Rock Apostolic Church, Bradford. Solid Rock Church will be collecting non-perishable food for a Thanksgiving food drive to bless families in Darke County.

Go to the registration table located across from the gazebo area to enter your name in the drawing for a chance to win over $1,000 in gift cards and prizes. You will receive an entry ticket when you park your car at the fairgrounds. You can earn extra entries for each non-perishable food item you donate for the food drive. Winners will be announced each hour and you can collect your prize at the gazebo.

The food trucks will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and include the following: Buckeye Burgers, CaliOH Eats, Cousins Maine Lobster, Crème de la Crème Cakery, GoDown’s Fixins, Gypsy Kitchen, Homestead Spud, Kettle Colonel, La Granja Mexican Food Truck, Nacho Pig, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, Werling Street Eats, and Wholly Smokes BBQ.

Shop from a large selection of over 100 local craft vendors and specialty clothing boutique trucks and shops to find that perfect Christmas gift. The craft vendors will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and located inside the coliseum, 4H Building and outside under tents.

This family-friendly event will have several fun activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Jungle Island Zoo is returning where visitors can observe, pet, and feed the critters and everyone gets a front row seat. The Patterson family will have pony rides for kids to enjoy from noon-7 p.m.

Ro-Da-O-Farm from Arcanum will have horse-drawn wagon rides decorated for Christmas for the entire family to enjoy from noon-7 p.m.

All the way from the North Pole, Santa Claus will be making a special appearance to visit the kids at the Darke County Fairgrounds from noon-5 p.m. inside the Youth Building. New this year will be “Buddy the Elf” and the “Grinch with Cindy Lou” walking around the fairgrounds taking pictures and interacting with all of the guests.

Returning this year will be the Christmas train Fantasyland display inside the Youth Building with Santa Claus. The Christmas train display is brought to you by the Richmond Area Railroaders Society.

There is also a full day of entertainment located inside the Youth Building.

The live entertainment includes Noah Back from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Special dance performances from 5678 Dance company from 1-1:30 p.m.; and from 2-4 p.m. the local Darke County band “Mora & The Boys”. Also inside the coliseum from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. will be the violin and cello duet combo “Viva la Strings” performing classical and Christmas favorites. Back by popular demand, will be the Little Miss & Mister “Fall into Christmas” Pageant. The age groups will be from 3-10 years of age. The Pageant will take place at 4 p.m. located inside the Youth Building. Contestants will be judged based on costume creativity (Fall or Christmas themed), personality, on-stage questions and natural beauty (no makeup allowed).

If you are interested in participating in the pageant, email Jason Blackburn for an application: [email protected].

For more details about the event and to participate in contests, you can go to the following: www.facebook.com/cremedelacreme.cakery and then click on the Events tab for “Fall into Christmas Food Truck Rally & Craft Show 2024.”

You can also contact Jason Blackburn for more information at [email protected].