As summer winds down, the Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce has fall on its mind. The Chamber will host a Fall Harvest event from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, at Baron Elementary School, 123 E. Gramby St. The free event is one way for the Chamber to connect with the community, said Kristie Schmid, executive director.

"We decided it was a great opportunity to bring something to Manheim that the whole family can enjoy," she said. "We reached out to our membership - businesses and community organizations alike - to help us make this a free event. We will have baked goods for sale and are bringing in the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream truck, but everything else will be free to enjoy."

The festivities will include two bounce houses, an inflatable obstacle course, a barrel wagon ride, fall-themed crafts, pumpkin decorating and more. A candy scramble will be held at 2 p.m. Mark DeRose, who performed for years with Steven Courtney and the Suitcase Musicians, will entertain at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

The Fall Harvest event is sponsored by Pleasant View Communities and Harrington Hoists, and it will offer a family-friendly, fun-filled afternoon, Schmid said.

"We hear all the time that our community wants more events, more reasons to bring people and families into Manheim," she stated. "The Chamber is in a unique position to be able to bridge the gap between local businesses and the community by hosting events just like this one."

She said she hopes families will take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the fall season and join the festivities. "We know fall weekends can be busy for families," she noted. "Please make the time to join us. Your local businesses and organizations are working hard to make this a great event for everyone. We would love to see lots of smiling faces."

For more information, visit http://www.manheimchamber.com.