Main Street Selma and the city of Selma hopes people will come to Water Avenue to check out local businesses, restaurants, and recent streetscape improvements during an Octoberfest event.

The groups are putting on “Oktober on the Avenue” on Saturday, Oct. 28 starting at 10 a.m.

Charlie Morgan, the owner of Charlie’s Place on Water Avenue, wanted to bring something that would give everyone an up-close look at the new streetscape but also offer them a day of fun downtown.

“The idea started with Charlie Morgan initially, and he’s been wanting to have something down here to show off what we have and have a street festival,” said Clay Carmichael, co-organizer of the event. “We’ve talked about that for months, probably over a year.”

Clay said at a Ward 3 Steering Committee meeting, the men were talking about having a beer festival and car show, and the ladies were talking about having a fall festival, so they decided to combine the two and offer adults as well as children something fun to do on the last weekend of October.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the activities will gear toward the children with a scarecrow contest, face painting, activities from the YMCA of Selma and Dallas County at the Butterfly Park at Riverfront Park, chalk art from art students, a pet costume parade and more.

Starting around 2 p.m., there will be more adult activities with music, an antique car show, artists, vendors, German beer and food and more.

Carmichael said they are also encouraging everyone to attend the ArtsRevive Tale-Tellin’ Festival at the Carneal ArtsRevive building later that night.

“We’re going to try to quiet down around 6 p.m. so people can go to the Tale-Tellin’ Festival, but businesses will stay open as long there are people there,” Carmichael said.

Overall, Carmichael said it’s just a great opportunity for people to get out of the house and downtown to see what Water Avenue has to offer with its businesses and restaurants.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said.

The event is free to the public.