Families enjoy Exeter Township Fall Festival at Boone Homestead

The Exeter Township Parks and Recreation Department hosted its annual Fall Festival & Hayride at Daniel Boone Homestead on Oct. 9.

Becky Richards, assistant director of Exeter Township Parks & Recreation, estimates more than 1,500 people came out for the day-long event.

“It was a great day that many of our friends and neighbors came out to enjoy a pretty nice fall day at the Daniel Boone Homestead,” said Richards.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates as well as the Exeter Township Parks and Recreation Department to enhance recreational opportunities in the community.

“The Daniel Boone Homestead was a perfect backdrop for our Fall Festival and the Homestead had volunteers offering demonstrations throughout the day in the Boone House,” she said.

The festival featured hayrides, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and a full day of fall-themed activities for kids and adults, as well as a beer, hard cider and wine tent presented by the Friends of the Exeter Community Library. There was also live music by Troy Witman Rocks Acoustic, The Noah Gibney Trio, and Tractor Jerry and the Mud Bucket.

“The Fall Festival & Hayride is a community event we enjoy offering to our residents of Exeter Township,” said Richards. “Most of the activities were free to festival visitors, courtesy of our local businesses, like the hayride, music on stage all day and so many fun activities for kids and families.”

Richards said that what makes this a great event is the community support.

“The Fall Festival is supported by so many members of the community, which really enhances the event,” she said.

In addition to local business sponsors, local groups like the Exeter Township Lions Club, the Women’s Club of Exeter and Exeter Township Fire Company joined the event.  Cub Scout Pack 319 helped with trash collection around the festival area, and Boy Scout Troop 319 helped run the games for younger kids.

“We also had many student volunteers from the high school who gave part of their Saturday to help direct parking or assist families and kids paint pumpkins or ride the Tractor Barrel Cars,” said Richards. “Each of these groups and volunteers helped make this truly an Exeter Township Community event!”

Many township programs were canceled last year due to the pandemic, including the Fall Festival & Hayride.

“We offered some creative new programs in 2020 like the Halloween Drive-Thru Spooktacular through our Public Works Garage, which was so popular, we decided to offer it again this year,” said Richards. “Think large-size Truck or Treat, with the treats at the end of the drive-thru.”

For more information about upcoming Exeter Township events, follow the Exeter Township Parks and Recreation Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/exeterparksandrec.

Source: Berkshire mont