Fall Fest is Katonah's Liveliest Yet

The Katonah Fall Festival is back, and it's bigger and livelier than ever.

The event annually draws a hundreds of people to the downtown area for a street fair-style showcase for local businesses.

This year, however, the traditional aspects are back—the Spam carving contest is in it's sixth year—but new components such as live music, food vendors and a shuttle bus to nearby tourist attractions could potentially draw thousands of visitors to downtown Katonah on Saturday.

"We took what was good, and ramped it up," said Midge Iorio, one of the festival's organizers, and director of membership at the Katonah Chamber of Commerce. "We've set it up so families can come down, stay for dinner, take the bus to Muscoot or Caramoor, and come back for the live music."

The Chamber has partnered with the Caramoor Center for the Arts, and Katonah Live in a cross-promotional effort to draw visitors to Katonah and the surrounding area. Caramoor is hosting Broadway star Kelli O'Hara for an evening of song beginning at 8 p.m., and the grounds of Muscoot Farm will be open until 5:30 p.m.

Katonah Live, , has booked the bands, all of which have ties to Katonah. The Folkadelics kick off the first set at 3:15 p.m. followed by the Knox Sisters, Hot in the Pocket and Fifth Nation. The Drew Bordeaux Group plays the final music set when it takes the stage at 6:30 p.m.

The bus stop will be across the street from the gazebo; a full bus schedule is posted with this story.

Here's a run-down on what you can do Saturday:

• Watch a pizza dough toss demonstration at Peppino's
• Taste wine at Katonah Wines and Liquors
• Sample food from Sgaglio's, Peppino's, Little Kebab House, Salsa Fresca, Willy Nicks's and more
• Watch dance and martial arts demonstrations
• "Take a spin on the pottery wheel" with the Katonah Art Center
• Hear a line up of performing in the center of town (rain location is Katonah Methodist Church)
• Enter your Spam creation in the carving contest held at Noka Joe's
• Walk your dog in the
• Romp on the "on-the-go" playground

A full schedule of events and their sponsors is posted with this story. For more information, visit the Katonah Chamber of Commerce website.