Hoschton will mark the fall season with a festival filled with music, a parade, vendors and a 5-kilometer race Sept. 23-25.

“Hay”es Days will feature hay bales, mums and other fall flowers decorating the town to celebrate the city’s fall festival. Activities will stretch from Lawson Funeral Home to Hoschton Depot and city square to Hoschton Town Center.

Events get under way 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, in downtown Hoschton. Vendors with arts and crafts, boutiques, honey,  and food will line the streets. For convenience, two ATMs will be set up in the area.

A children’s area will entertain youth while their parents browse through the booths. Activities will include two petting zoos and a zip line.

Dogs will be welcome to the festival as Dixie Dock Dog plans to attend. Owners can see if their pooch can participate with the best of the best from 6-8 p.m. Friday.

The Dixie Dock Dogs will practice Saturday morning in advance of Big Air Waves competition from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The extreme vertical competition is at 4 p.m. The Dock Dogs will be back from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for the youth finals. Big Air finals are at 4 p.m.

Dog Gone Cute will host a pet parade and contest at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Singer-songwriter Whisper Whitlock, a graduate of Jackson County Comprehensive High School, will perform at 3:30 p.m. Friday on the newly constructed pavilion stage in the grassy area adjacent to the former Hootie’s. Other Friday night live music will be the Southpaw Band at 6 p.m. and Moby Dick from 8-10 p.m.

Music receives top billing Saturday with performers stationed at the Hoschton Depot. Featured acts are Brandon Sears at noon, Katie Wolf at 2:30 p.m., Moonshine Serenade at 3:30 p.m. followed by Georgia Overcast. On the main stage at 6 p.m. will be Second Time Around with Fly Betty Band performing from 8-10 p.m.

But Saturday begins with the 8 a.m. Scarecrow 5K benefiting Jackson County Food 2 Kids. The American Street Rodders’ car show will follow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the town center.

The parade is set to being at 10 a.m. Saturday with Whitlock singing the National Anthem. During the parade, students from West Jackson Elementary School will carry the banner and the Jackson County Comprehensive High School JROTC will present the colors. Mike Hayes of Hayes Automotive Group will be the grand marshal. Parade awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. on the stage.

The Hoschton Heritage Arts Council will host Bingo from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Author Steve Pirkle will sell and autograph his two Hoschton area books. The Hoschton Women’s Civic Club will selling raffle tickets for a quilt and the drawing will be Dec. 3 when the club hosts its annual Santa at the Depot.

A new addition to this year’s fall festival is a rib cookoff. Awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m.                                                                                                                          

For more information, visit www.cityofhoschton.com or www.facebook.com/CityOfHoschton.