FARMINGTON — Temperatures were only in the mid-40s Saturday morning, but that didn’t stop participation in the 4th Annual Front Street Pumpkin Festival.

Families could be seen walking up and down Front Street with their children bundled up in hats and mittens. Others waited in line for a chance to ride Kendrick Charles’ horse-drawn wagon from Divine Inspirations to Union Rental or back.

An hour into the festival, lines were still prominent at the booths where festival passes were being sold.

Some events were available only to those purchasing $5 festival passes. Pass-holders could watch the movie “Pan” or “Hotel Transylvania 2,” see a puppet show, have their faces painted, decorate cookies, create scarecrows, take part in the scavenger hunt with a grand prize worth over $300 and enter for drawings at several participating Front Street businesses. 

Other events were free, including a giant hay maze set up at Union Rental. Several craft activities were available next to Norton Optometry. Children could make a yarn pumpkin or a shaving cream and paint leaf. Creating designs using apple pie-scented play dough was popular and children could show off their artistic talents on the reusable paint panels. Professor Smartypants sang family songs, folks could help make cider and families could take pictures at the photo board created by high school art student Lauren Duvall.

Perhaps one of the most crowd-pleasing events was the Flying High Frisbee Dogs. Mike Piazza of Nahant, Mass., and his three border collie dogs put on a feat of athleticism, speed and accuracy that had the crowd applauding.

Piazza has been training and competing in K-9 Frisbee competitions for 18 years. He once held the long-distance world record in K-9 Frisbee. Now, he and his dogs perform at a variety of venues.

During the show, Piazza often asked for audience participation. At the end, he permitted each child to throw a Frisbee to Bullet, a 6-year-old female, to see whether she could complete a back flip while catching it.

Daniel Emery of Highland Plantation won the pumpkin pie-eating contest.

In the obstacle race, 20-year-old Josiah Chapman earned the title of First Men’s Overall with his time of 0:21:56. Rebecca Fletcher, 37, was First Female Overall with a time of 0:22:57. Fifty-eight competitors ran in the 12 age divisions.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net