Country and gospel singer Terri Gibbs entertained at last year's Rayle Ramble, always a favorite on Wilkes County's fall event calendar. No list of the jam-packed fall activities schedule in Wilkes County would be complete without mentioning the Rayle Ramble, the tourism director says.

"We would never forget the Rayle Ramble October 25," Tourism Director Ashley Barnett said. "Last year, country singer Terri Gibbs entertained a crowd of ramblers that organizer Jason Echols estimated at 2,000 people, to enjoy food, music, bingo, and all kinds of activities for kids. They had a great time, and the Rayle Volunteer Fire Department sold out of their famous barbecue chicken."

The next fall event upcoming is an old favorite. On September 13, the annual Fall Cruise-In on the Square returns from 6 to 9 p.m. on The Square in downtown Washington. Sponsored by Memory Lane Cruisers (www.memorylanecruisersga. com), the Cruise-In will bring more than 100 old cars, trucks, motorcycles to fill The Square for the evening.

Interest is growing for the second annual Little Miss, Mr. & Miss Wilkes County Pageant, set for September 27 at the Pope Center. The pageant times are 11 a.m. for contestants 12 months thru 6 years, and 7 p.m. for those 7 through 18 years old. Registrations forms and more information can be found at MissWilkesCountyPageant.com. The pageant is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Market Days Street Festival will bring the action Downtown on October 25. An old favorite, the Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival, will return October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Callaway Plantation on Highway 78 west of Washington. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, this celebration of plantation life in the Old South offers mule contests, primitive demonstrations, food, an arts & crafts show, and fun for the whole family. Admission is free, with $6 charge for parking.

A second quarterly Chamber After-Hours is set for October 23 at one of the city's newest businesses, Retro Cinema & Books. The dropin event is set for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 114 Spring Street.

Then, on Saturday, October 25, just a few miles up Highway 78 from Washington, the annual Rayle Ramble will bring fun, food, music, and bingo for family, friends, and visitors from all over.

That same Saturday, returning for a second successful year, Market Days Street Festival is set 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Downtown Washington at Allison Street and Court Street. The event, sponsored by Washington First and the Washington Farmers Market will bring food, arts & crafts vendors, and special events for the kids and live music all day. More information is available at 706-678-6256 or washingtonfarmersmarket@ yahoo.com

Beta Sigma Phi will hold a Golf Tournament October 25 at the Washington-Wilkes Country Club.

The Washington-Wilkes Arts Foundation will bring back its popular Fall ArtFest this year on November 8 and 9. More information on the free event is available at 706-678-5511 or at the web site WashingtonWilkesArts.org.

And finally, the Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet will be held December 4 at the Pope Conference Center, starting at 6:30 pm with a Meet & Greet, and dinner and awards presentation starting at 7.

And then it's time for Christmas.