NORTHFIELD — Children played Giant Jenga and wandered through a short walking maze in the early hours of the first Northfield Fall Fest, which brought a bright, family-friendly atmosphere on a cloudy Saturday morning.
The festival, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a grass lot owned by the Community Bible Church, featured local artisans and farmers, an apple cider press from the Northfield Tool Lending Library and a pumpkin carving contest, all while local musicians filled the air with music.
Organizer Amy Neil said she was excited by the turnout of the Northfield community.
“There’s a buzz I don’t think Northfield has had for a long time,” Neil said. “Today is about a feeling … feeling that buzz and that camaraderie.”
Folks were invited to bring their children and let them play with Giant Jenga or a corn hole set, and walk through a maze Neil set up that morning. As children played, their parents browsed local vendors featuring a variety of crafts and products ranging from knit apparel, artwork and locally produced honey. Neil said, however, the most important thing available at Fall Fest was the community bonding.
“That’s the joy of it,” Neil said, “connecting with the faces you see every day.”
Local beekeeper Jill Bezzant, who owns Bezzant Bees, said the Fall Fest is a nice event for Northfield to have because it’s another outlet for local products to be sold.
“This is a cute little thing,” Bezzant said. “Because of COVID, we haven’t had the chance to sell.”
She added people should be thankful for the Community Bible Church allowing the festival to happen on its property.
“What we don’t have in Northfield is a gathering place,” Bezzant said. “It’s lovely of the church to let us use this. They’ve been very generous.”
Even those who don’t live locally found time to enjoy the event. Cambridge resident Daniel Brady, who is spending some time in the area, brought his children to the festival.
“We’re visiting friends,” Brady said. “It’s been very nice so far.”
He said his friend had told him about the event, and the pumpkin carving contest and apple cider interested him.
“I haven’t seen any jack-o-lanterns yet,” he joked. “I’m looking forward to seeing some apples pressed, though.”
Northfield resident Fran Welcome said getting children out and about is good for them and “good for the town.”
“It’s cute,” he said. “It’s nice to see the kids play, especially with all the COVID stuff.”
He said the atmosphere of the event fits Northfield perfectly and he is hopeful there will be more events like the Fall Fest in the future.
“There’s a lot of nice artists and crafts, and the food’s always a plus,” Welcome said. “Northfield is a friendly town, it’s laid-back.”
Neil said the Fall Fest is the first of possibly many more events bringing the Northfield community together.
“It leaves you with the energy of wanting more,” Neil said. “Hopefully it’s the first of a lot more.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.