Pumpkin-Palooza hits Green Bay Eleven-year-old tap dancer Seth Kutzleb of Allouez catches the attention Beth Noonkester during Pumpkin Palooza along Broadway (photo by Tina Gohr). By Monique Balas News-Chronicle By dressing up like a pumpkin, 10-year-old Greta Schmitt found a perfect way to get into the fall spirit at Saturday's Pumpkin-Palooza festival. Schmitt was trying on a costume as she and her sisters, their mother, Dona, and a group of friends milled near a miniature pumpkin patch in front of Aurora BayCare Medical Center. The group was trying to determine what to do next at the festival, which offered a tempting array of options. "I think it's a good idea to have this," Greta said, referring to the first-ever fall celebration in Green Bay's downtown Broadway district. "We got pictures with Frankenstein and we're going to get a taffy apple." Pumpkin-Palooza offered pumpkin sales and decoration opportunities - with help from local artists - crafts for kids, free hayrides, photos with scary backdrops and sales at Broadway businesses. Meanwhile, 10-year-old Green Bay tap dancer Seth Kutzleb entertained those waiting in line for hayrides as he performed a tap dancing routine in front of Old Fort Square. "I went on a hayride," said a proud Madalynn Deleon, 7, who was making a Halloween-inspired bookmark at a display outside Red Awning. "We're just walking the streets, checking out all the stores," said Dona Schmitt, whose husband is Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt. "It's just kind of fun to be out in the fall weather." It was a last-minute idea presented three weeks ago by some of the businesses in On Broadway Inc., but program coordinator Brenda Krauss said turnout was unexpectedly high. She estimated about 300 to 400 people came to the event, which had the clear, crisp fall day on its side. "The weather really helped us out. There's been a lot of people and the kids are having a blast," she said. Business was good not just for the Broadway stores, but also for Bill Dornaus, a pumpkin farmer with Pumpkin Hollow Farms. It was Dornaus' pumpkins that were being snatched up to paint and decorate. "It's not a get-rich-quick situation, but it's just something nice to do," he said. "It's bringing a little country into the city." Being in the Broadway area gave him the chance to check out unique stores he wouldn't have frequented otherwise. From a different perspective, those stores are grateful to have an increased presence. "We had people that had not been to Broadway in years, who really weren't that familiar with us even being here," said Susan Peltier, who co-owns Fete at 163 N. Broadway. She estimated 25 percent of the people who came into her store Saturday were first-time customers. Peltier was happy to have a chance to disprove people's stereotypes of Broadway as the scrappy neighborhood it was 10 years ago. "It was a wonderful day, lots of families. We like that," she said. "It makes people realize Broadway's not spooky and icky anymore. There's a lot of people who still think Broadway is a rough area."