DAYTON, Maine — For two weekends, families are able to enjoy a variety of activities marking the arrival of fall at Pumpkin Valley Farm's annual Sunflower Festival in Dayton.
"We love doing this at the beginning of the school year and then we come back for the pumpkins later on. It's always a great place for our family to come," Kate Laverriere said.
Laverriere has been bringing her children here since the start five years ago. "We came with Jane when she was three and her sister, who is now five, was six or seven months old at the time."
Laverriere's oldest daughter, Jane, who is now eight years old, still has trouble picking a favorite thing about the festival. "There's a lot of stuff," Jane said. "I feel like you guys like the balloon pillow," Laverriere said to her daughter. "That is fun," Jane responded.
The Laverriere's aren't the only family the festival has become an annual tradition for.
"We've always said it's like our favorite part of fall, coming here," Ashley Winslow said. Winslow and her kids were just getting started when NEWS CENTER Maine spoke to them on Sunday.
"We just got out of the corn pit, that's why we're covered in corn," she said. Despite the mess, their plans for the day were far from over and her son was already nudging her to head over to the jumping pillow next.
Farm owner Keith Harris said they've been growing the festival since the start, adding new activities each year, all with a goal to entertain families.
"The biggest thing for us is making memories," Harris said. Whether families say they have fun rolling around in the corn pit, bouncing on the jumping pillow, or playing games and listening to live music, Harris said he loves hearing feedback on every new addition.
"I like it because I really like to dance," Oliviano Spearin, one of the children dancing along to the strums of a guitar, played by the festival's performer, said. "They all come out and they enjoy their time out here, maybe a little bit of unplugged time. So, it's just great to see," Harris said.
There's no shortage of things to do during Maine's summer season, but Harris said he wanted to offer an opportunity to keep social events going into the fall. "It's time to get outside before the winter sets in."
It's safe to say Harris has been successful getting people outside, a trend he and his visitors plan to continue for many years to come. "I think we'll just keep going until they tell us they don't want to come anymore and then maybe my husband and I will still just come," Laverriere said.
The festival continues into Labor Day. The last day to attend will be Sept. 2, from 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is $14 per person for all people over the age of 2.