Summertime is winding down, the kids are back to school and the fall season is right around the corner. Join the city of Auburn as they bring in the fall season celebrating the 19th year of “Auburn Autumn Days,” on September 11th & 12th, 2009.

The festivities will kick off on Friday evening, September 11th at 5 pm in the McCutchen-Coke Park for “Family Fun Night” and resume on Saturday, September 12th at 7 am in the American Legion Hall for a pancake breakfast.

“Family Fun Night” is all about the family spending time together and having fun. There’s something for everyone to do and for all ages. There will be lots of games to play and many prizes to win. So come and test your skills at the ring toss or in the fishing pond or the baseball throw or bean bag toss or even the washer throw, but there’s more. How about trying a game of 21 in basketball or buying a chance to win a cake in the cakewalk. Along with the games, there will be hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos & cheese, chips and drinks available to purchase at a reasonable price. It’s an excellent way to spend an evening with the whole family and have loads of fun and good food at economical costs. Tickets for the games are two tickets for $1; the price for the cakewalk is two tickets per walk. You might even win dessert for your family. See what you have to look forward to!

On Saturday, September 12th “Auburn Autumn Days” continues, starting with a pancake breakfast at the American Legion Hall on Main Street. The cost is $4 per person. You’ll have many vendors from around our area set up in the square of Auburn with crafts, antiques, collectibles and some people’s favorite, the food vendors. They will be there from 8 am until late afternoon. The Shriner clowns will be “clowning around” the square making balloon animals and such things, any donations they received will go directly to the Shriner’s Hospital for the children. Make sure you visit all of the vendors, your contributions keep them coming back and don’t forget to make a donation to the Shriner’s Hospital, it is for a good cause.

The day is filled with many things going on around town, you’ll have live pony rides by Logan County 4-H in the park, live music on the Linton house lawn by the square, Quilt show, modular railroad show at Auburn Baptist Church, Auburn Historical Museum will be open at 1 pm until 5 pm for tours, a dunking booth to try your pitching skills and dunk your favorite official and/or Auburnite, a raffle drawing for a cherry sugar chest made by Colonial House Furniture, you may buy three chances for $1 at the Auburn Tourism booth and even purchase an event T-shirt for only $5. And it is possible there will be inflatables for the kids.

Even with all this fun going on, don’t miss an opportunity to visit all the other merchants in Auburn. We have antiques, restaurants and other little shops with all kinds of merchandise; it’s worth stopping by to see for yourself.

There is a new event this year – a hotdog-eating contest. How many hotdogs and buns can you eat in 10 minutes? It will be held on the square in front of the US Bank. Enrollment time is from 11 am until 12 pm Saturday, September 12th. Entry fee is $5.00 per person and there are three age groups:

1) Up to 12 years old, 2) 13 to 16 years old, and 3) 17 years old and up. First, second and third place prizes will be given away.

Ages: Up to 12 years old

1st place: Plaque and Russellville Family Pass for one month

2nd place: Dinner for 2

3rd place: Large Pizza

Ages: 13 – 16 years old

1st place: Plaque and $50.00 savings bond

2nd place: Dinner for 2

3rd place: Large Pizza

Ages: 17 years old and up

1st place: Plaque and $50.00 savings bond

2nd place: Dinner for 2

3rd place: Large Pizza

The 1st Auburn Autumn Days Hotdog-Eating Contest will begin at 1 pm. You don’t want to miss watching this event or maybe enter the contest. Who knows you might be a winner. Anyway, let’s make this a huge success, you bring your appetites and all others can bring on the cheers.

As this wonderful weekend of events comes to a close, the Auburn Tourism Commission wants to invite everyone to join us for “Auburn Autumn Days” dinner and silent auction being held at the Auburn School cafeteria and gym and begins at 5 p.m. The dinner menu is all the spaghetti you can eat and it comes with a side salad, a roll and cake for dessert. The price is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 years old and under and the tickets will be sold at the door. The Auburn Tourism Commission is looking forward to serving you a great meal with the help of some of the City Council. The silent auction will follow dinner. All donations of items are from our surrounding area and local merchants; it has always been good quality items from gift certificates of services or retail to house ware items to collectibles, etc. We are sure that you will find something you can’t live without.

Anyone still wishing to rent a booth, there is still time and spaces available for rent. The price to rent a booth is $20 and $25 for booths with electricity. Contact Auburn City Hall at 542-4149 to rent a space to sell your goods.

Come and celebrate with us at one of the best events we have in our small town of Auburn. The Auburn Tourism Commission sponsors this event every year and they work hard to make it the best event ever, but it takes everyone to make it the success that it is. Auburn is located off Hwy 68/80 between Bowling Green and Russellville.

As the sign says in town, “Auburn is small enough to know you and large enough to serve you.” Hope to see you all there!