ORANGE PARK – The town will host hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors at the 37th annual Fall Festival this weekend.

Deemed one of the county’s signature events by the Clay County Tourism Development Council, the Fall Festival sits within the company of other large events like the Scottish Games and the Agricultural Fair. Festival Manager and Orange Park Recreation Director Emily Dockery said she expects this year to be the biggest yet as it’ll host a national headliner for the first time in the festival’s history.

“The thing we’re most excited about is our first-ever national headliner, Buddy Jewell,” Dockery said.

Jewell is a national act who grew to fame after winning becoming the first winner on the USA Network singing competition Nashville Star. Dockery said his most famous song is “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song)”.

The festival will run between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday at Town Hall at 2042 Park Ave. Jewell will take the main stage on Saturday at 1 p.m.

When the first festival happened in 1982, it featured a few guitar players and just a handful of vendors. This year’s festival will have three stages, over 200 vendors, 30 of which are for food, a children’s zone, a pumpkin patch and photo opportunities.

The different vendors include photography, pottery, woodworking, crocheting, knitting, quilting, pet supplies, fudge, cookies, pastries, Christmas ornaments, home and garden goods, candles and soaps.

“This is a family-centric event and there’s plenty of opportunities for family fun,” Dockery said.

Orange Park Mayor Connie Thomas also serves as a council member on the Tourism Development Council and she said the festival is an important event for the county’s tourism as it brings in thousands of people, many of which are from outside the county, as well as increased visibility to the area as a whole.

“We encourage people from far and wide to come out and experience the culture and community of Orange Park,” Thomas said. “When they’re done with the festival, there’s plenty of local businesses in town waiting to serve them.”

Thomas said the festival is an award-winning event and serves as a highlight of the year for the town. It also sets up the holiday season to come in the coming months.

For those interested in attending, Dockery said she recommends that attendees park in the parking lot of long-time festival partner, Moosehaven, as they are offering free parking all weekend as well as free shuttles to take guests to and from the site across the street.

Dockery said those looking for more details can visit opfallfestival.com. That website includes a full list of entertainment guests can look forward too and all of the vendors who will be selling local and handcrafted goods.

“It’s one of those feel-good events that our mayors, over the years, have always said is a really great place to run into neighbors and feel like a part of a community,” Dockery said. “It’s a family environment and brings an important sense of community to a small town located in the smack dab middle of Clay County.

“It’s a chance to slow down together with friends and family and feel a sense of community.”