GROVE CITY — The 16th Grove City Fall Fest will be a laid-back event, as always.

When the event started in 1998, it was designed to be a calm, autumnal festival, contrasting with the high-energy Strawberry Days festival, which is held every year in June.

“We try to keep the Fall Fest completely different from Strawberry Days,” said festival chairman Mary Kay Mattocks, who also organizes the June event.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Grove City Memorial Park. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people could attend.

“It’s weather-dependent, but we’ve been truly blessed,” Mattocks said.

The winners of the annual Scarecrows in the Park contest will be announced at the festival.

Mattocks said that the scarecrows draw people to the park and let them know that the event will be taking place.

“It’s like our best advertisement,” Mattocks said.

There are three categories for scarecrow entries: businesses, organizations and individuals.

Ten prizes will be awarded: $200 for best of show, $150 for first place in each category, $100 for second place and $50 for third place.

The fourth annual Great Balls of Fall raffle, which benefits the Grove City Chamber of Commerce, will take place at 2 p.m.

“It’s been successful for them,” Mattocks said.

Nearly 5,000 golf balls will be released at the top of a hill in the park and will travel through an obstacle course to the finish line.

The first-place prize is $500, the second-place ball is $250 and five third-place balls will be awarded $50 each.

Tickets are $2 each or three for $5 and are available at the chamber office.

There will be more than 300 pumpkins available for children to decorate for free, another popular activity.

“They’re usually gone by 2 p.m.,” Mattocks said.

The Grove City United Way will sponsor a chili cook-off, a pie bake-off, a new soup contest, a cupcake bake-off for kids and children’s activities.

The event also will feature about 50 crafters, a “yard sale” area, hay wagon rides from noon to 4 p.m. and food sold under a pavilion.

“It’s a day in the park,” Mattocks said.

Parking will be available at the park and at Grove City High School.