BERNARDSTON — Sunday afternoon at the Scarecrow in the Park festival was a quintessential example of fall in Franklin County. Saturday’s drizzly weather had been replaced by sunshine while more than 60 craft vendors and eight nonprofits had booths set up in Cushman Park.
The event, which started Friday evening and went through Saturday and Sunday, included food, crafts, games for kids and music.
The festival was put on by the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, and those who planned it called the weekend a big success. Mark Fitzpatrick, one of the organizers of the event said about 2,000 people in total attended the festival.
The weekend started out as a scarecrow contest 12 years ago, something that is still the main event. The contest had five categories this year: scariest, funniest, prettiest, most interesting use of materials, and a new category which rotates among reading, math, science and history, with this year’s theme being science. Organizers of the festival hope to offer something for all families in Franklin County, and want the event to continue to grow the way it has. The event is free and open to the public every year.
Brandon Grover, another organizer, said it was clear by the high level of competition that there was a lot of time and effort put into this year’s entries.
Overall, the festival wasn’t deterred much by the weather. Eventgoers still came out on Friday and Saturday, as well as large crowds on Sunday. In a new event for the festival, Silverthorne Theater performed Macbeth on Friday to a crowd of several hundred that was standing room only.
Beyond the vendors and food, the event also included hay rides, children’s activities, a tractor parade and a Halloween dance party.
Vendors also called the weekend a success. Bill Schneider runs Browning Brook Maple in Colrain, and sells all things related to New England maple syrup. It was their third year at the event. He said they can typically expect good sales during the weekend.
“People are looking for it, it’s that time of year,” he said.
Amy Adams, a Bernardston resident, who came to the festival with her husband and two children, said they come nearly every year.
Both of her children partook in the face painting, with her daughter sporting butterfly wings on each side of her face and her son donning a full face of zombie makeup.
“It’s something festive to do,” Adams said.
Miranda Davis covers Gill, Montague and Erving. Reach her at 413-772-0261, ext. 280 or mdavis@recorder.com.