Ashfield in the Hilltowns celebrated its 27th annual Fall Festival on October 10 & 11. It was a beautiful weekend and the music, games, tag sales, and food drew thousands of participants. I even noticed license plates from as far away as Wyoming and Tennessee. The festival must be getting on some national lists of great events and they would be right. The downtown was the perfect setting for the festival with beautiful colonial era houses and Victorian store fronts as backdrops to the booths selling Maple syrup snow cones, local honey, kielbasa grinders from Pekarski's, and locally made crafts.

The Common hosted children's games and a music stage with new performers every hour. The Belding Memorial Library held their annual two day long book sale in the basement. At the end books were going for $5.00 a bag. Another highlight is Mike's Amazing Tag Sale that draws hundreds of bargain seekers. At the end of that sale everything is free! Local children are encouraged to participate as craft and food makers. I sampled some delicious apple sauce and pumpkin cupcakes made by a local girl. This is definitely a local Fall festival to put on your calendar for nest year.

The Festival raises over $12,500.00 every year for Ashfield Citizens’ Scholarship Fund.