Food, fun at Fall fest
by Shannon Harrison, ne news editor

     Two days of free children’s activities and an eclectic mix of music await visitors to the third annual Northeast Fall Festival, Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 14-15, on NE Campus
     Sponsored by NE Campus and the city of Hurst, the Fall Festival offers plenty of entertainment for people of all ages.
     Children can enjoy themselves 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at the children’s area, sponsored by Cook Children’s Medical Center.
     Children interested in arts and crafts can choose from leaf rubbings, noodle necklaces, fun with vegetables, spin art and bug bonanza. In addition, TCC art students will assist with pottery making, face painting and temporary tattoos.
     Science, math and dental students will keep children busy by combining education and fun. The interactive booths include Mysteries of the Body, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Fossil Fun, Fun with Science and Math Madness.
     Most of the children’s activities are under tents, but Bubble Man and farm animals will have children outside to try their hand at creating unusual bubbles or painting animals in their favorite colors.
     Miniature golf, tossing games, bowling and pin the nose on the pumpkin are among the games that will be featured at this two-day event.
     Other activities for the entire family throughout the two days include a large arts and crafts fair, live entertainment, a tractor show and a pie-baking contest.
     The fun doesn’t stop when the day is over. For music lovers, the Fall Festival will provide free performances by five different bands.
     Hard Night’s Day, a Beatles cover band, will start Saturday evening’s performances at 6:30 p.m. Rather than trying to imitate the look, the group works on tight harmonies and detailed arrangements to replicate the sound of the Beatles.
     At 7:45 p.m., The Sons of Harmony, a local boy band, will take the stage. The group recently won a vocal group contest on VH1’s website. The group came together when 106.1 KISS FM’s Kidd Kraddick created a contest to discover the most talented young men from the ages of 16 to 23. The day after they won the contest, they appeared on the radio and sang. A record company executive heard them and immediately signed the group. They have recently opened for 98 Degrees, Jessica Simpson and Nu Flava.
     Le Freak will recreate the ’70s with their attire, hairstyles and music at 8:15 p.m.
     “Attacking all five of your senses is their specialty, and that’s what keeps people coming back for more,” actor John Travolta said. “You can actually taste the music.”
     The Dallas-based group is known for presenting an experience.
    Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns will swing into action at 9:15 p.m. Considered the number one party act in music circles around the country, Carrasco and his band offer a slow, cool cumbia/reggae tone. Their first single, Party Weekend, was later re-released by MTV as Party Christmas. Carrasco has produced 12 albums, played guitar in the movie Tin Cup and has performed all over the world. His music has been featured on Saturday Night Live and was recorded by Freddy Fender.
    Sunday’s headliner band, Brave Combo, will play two sets beginning at 2 p.m. The Grammy award-winning band’s music ranges from polka to bolero. The band originated in Denton over 20 years ago and regularly performs for sold-out crowds.
    Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available from 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
    All the activities during the festival are free to the public.
    For more information, contact Eddye Gallagher at 817-515-6391 or the Hurst Parks and Recreation Center at 817-788-7320.