Kaylee McGhee/Collegian
Hillsdale residents and students enjoyed free treats while wandering through downtown Hillsdale and explored its shops during the Hillsdale Business Association’s annual Awesome Autumn event on Oct. 18.
Over 22 local businesses participated in this year’s fall festival, which included a costume contest for kids, free snacks, and local history postings.
According to Carol Gier, employee at Maribeth’s, the annual event helps spread awareness of what downtown Hillsdale has to offer.
“It gets people in stores who have never been down here before,” Gier said.
According to Hillsdale resident Dottie Pauley, the event gets better every year.
“They do such a good job with it,” Pauley said. “It gets everyone in the community involved.”
Kathy Newell, member of the HBA, said the event is meant to promote a good climate for local businesses in downtown Hillsdale, just like other annual events the HBA sponsors.
“It’s meant to do two things,” Newell said. “If you’ve never been in a store, it’s supposed to bring you in the store. If you have been in the store, it’s meant to thank you for supporting our local businesses.”
According to Suzanne Spiteri, owner of Crow’s Nest, Awesome Autumn is her favorite out of the events the HBA sponsors.
“People come in and say I have a nice store and that they’ll come back,” Spiteri said. “And they do.”
