CONWAY — Throughout the day at the Festival of the Hills, people walked by one another to say hello, stopped to embrace, or have a conversation with each other.
There was no shortage of activities, from educational booths like the Ashfield Rod and Gun Club fur and skull table to athletic activities.
There were crafts, food, art and book signings from local vendors. Athletic events included a log splitting contest, a skillet toss contest and a duck race.
For families there were children’s activities such as sliding down the hill on the Conway town field in a sled, painting pumpkins, games and face painting.
With many activities and events throughout the day on Sunday, people were drawn to the festival for many reasons — some because it’s a long-standing tradition or because of food and entertainment.
Eliza Langhans, of Conway, said she was happy to see so many people come to the festival and she came to spend the day with her daughter. She added that she liked there were so many children’s activities.
“We haven’t had it in a couple years, so it’s really nice and fun to have here,” Langhans said. “We got ice cream, face painted and the slide is really great, too.”
Although not a children’s activity, Eddie Assad and his son Alex Assad said they always stop to see the blacksmith demonstration.
“We make sure to stop by to visit the blacksmith, with the ironwork,” Assad said. “We find it amazing. He makes Alex something — usually experimenting — and he gives it to Alex to keep.”
This year Alex Assad received a duck from the blacksmith.
“The duck actually looks like a duck,” Assad said. “My favorite part is the pigeons — they are so cute.”
Food vendors provided fried dough, fresh-pressed cider, Tibetan food, pulled pork, soup and other options including home-made candies and fudge.
Conway resident John Majercaw said he’s been living in town for decades and it’s a tradition for him to attend the festival.
“I come to see my friends and neighbors as well as Tom Ricardi’s birds of prey booth,” Majercaw said. “I always enjoy a piece of pie from the Congregational Church. It’s a great festival on a beautiful fall day.”
Jeremy Keaton, a Turners Falls resident, same he came because he used to live in Conway.
“It’s nice to see people I know. It’s good to see them again,” Keaton said. “I also came for the momo.”
Like Keaton, Donald Charest, of Conway, and Kelly Charest, of Deerfield, attended to see people they knew.
“I’m from Conway and I’ve been going for years,” Donald Charest said. “I like the parade see old friends. It’s different every year. One year it was raining and that wasn’t as fun. But this year it’s beautiful.”
Kelly Charest said she always feels drawn to the festival.
“It’s the camaraderie. It feels like a home-grown festival with a small-town feel,” Charest said.