Austin about to get an early start trick-or-treating this weekend.

The annual fall festival returns downtown from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The day starts with trick-or-treating” with the downtown merchants from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it also includes pumpkin crafts at the Austin ArtWorks Center, and two skits by the Matchbox Children’s Theatre. The free event is for all ages and will feature trick or treat at about 25 downtown businesses. The event is also expanding from Main Street to include Fourth Avenue Northeast businesses like the B&J Bar and Grill and Everything Hobby.

“What’s really cool is its a free event so everybody in Austin no matter what can participate,” Downtown Destination Vision 2020 chair Kelsey Ritchie said.

It also features a kids’ costume contest, which will be at 1 p.m. on the Mower County Government Center lawn across from Rydjor Bike.

All participants will receive prizes.

Matchbox will perform two skits every half hour from 10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. One skit centers on a couple of witches, while the other, called “Superstitious Rabbits,” will feature three child actors.

Jim’s Super Fresh will also set up an area with fall decorations as a photo opportunity in the empty lot near the Tendermaid. Ritchie said last year’s display featured a scare crow, hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins and other decorations.

Though Ritchie said the day isn’t usually a big business day for downtown merchants, she described it as a great day to get families downtown for a fun, free event that celebrates the Austin community.

“Everybody loves seeing the kids dressed up its just a huge moral boost,” she said.

To round out the day, Charlie Parr will perform a concert at the Historic Paramount Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $5 for students, and can be bought online at www.austinareaarts.org. For more information, call Ritchie at 808-652-4552. The event is sponsored by Vision 2020.