LIVERMORE FALLS — The 2011 Apple Pumpkin Festival is expected to be bigger and better than ever this Saturday.

The annual event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Livermore Falls Recreation Field on Foundry Road. A rain date of Saturday, Oct. 15, is scheduled, according to the festival website www.applepumpkinfestival.org. The event is hosted by the Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Once again there will be events for all ages, plenty of food, free activities for children, accomplished local musicians, vendors and educational exhibits.

Antique tractors, a shoe trailer, hand-crafted items, a balloon release, and, of course, apples, pumpkins and mum sales are among the highlights.

One can nearly smell the aroma of goodies lined up for the event from meatball subs to baby back ribs to chili and sausage. That only names some of the dishes and there will be plenty of sweets on tap from fudge to whoopee pies.

Organizers request that no smoking is done on the field and there be no animals, with the exception of service dogs.

Besides fun activities for children such as face painting, the tiger slide and bounce house, there will be challenges at the climbing wall, rat race and bungee jumping.

Parking is available on lots on Depot Street and Water Street, and a small lot off the Foundry Road. On-street parking is also available in the business district. The Foundry Road will be one-way from behind the municipal building to the intersection of Routes 133 and 17, also known locally as Park Street..

Area activities throughout the day include a Lions Club buttermilk pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the American Legion Hall at 17 Reynolds Ave. in Livermore Falls and the annual book sale at Treat Memorial Library.

The Maine Paper and Heritage Museum on Church Street in Livermore Falls will be open for tours, and a harvest supper will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Rose Parish Hall in Jay.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the pie baking contest and the Maine Paper Museum road race have been canceled this year.

The festival will also provide toe-tapping, live local music performing on two stages.

On stage one at 10 a.m. will be Nickels and Dimes; 11 a.m., Lolalee and the Country Bandits; noon, Bill Giasson; 1 p.m., Barry Wood; and 2 p.m., Potpourri.

Performing on stage two at 10 a.m., Paul Bright; 11 a.m., Jan Gill & Friends; noon, Crash Road Band; 1 p.m., Paula Kaiser and The Off the Hill Band; and 2 p.m., Whitedove Praise and Worship Team.

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