WHATELY — Deep folky tones strummed by the band MilkBottle mingled with lingering barbecue smoke during the Whately Historical Society’s annual Fall Festival on Sunday afternoon at the Center School.
“It’s been very successful,” said Adelia Bardwell, historical society member and event organizer. “I’m thrilled with the crowd and love watching the kids play.”
The air was crisp with the scent of fall. The sound of friendly conversation could be heard as the community sampled local products and checked out the work of local artisans, such as George Reynolds, who was at the event displaying his marbled paper.
“You don’t need to be able to draw or paint to do this,” Reynolds said while sitting next to a table covered with his craft, explaining that marbled paper is made by transferring designs created in ink floating on water to smooth surfaces such as paper, leather and stone. Reynolds, whose work is sold at Salmon Falls Gallery in Shelburne Falls, said the method has been used going back to the middle ages.
One booth over, Bean’s Maple Distillery sold fried dough with maple cream on top. On the other side of Reynolds’ booth, Ewan Mikolajczuk of Ewan’s Apiary had beeswax candles that he said are better than both wax and soy candles because beeswax purifies air when the candle burns.
Other vendors at the festival included wood carver Paul M. Fleuriel, who brought handmade wooden cars and Christmas ornaments; sisters Mary Wheeler and Nancy Sitzman; who own Smash furniture; and potter Nancy Talanian, who said she had a very successful day.
Just down the road, the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library held its annual Friends of the Library Book Sale under a large white tent on the library’s lawn. The event was close enough to the festival for many attendees to walk to from the Center School
“We hold it every year in conjunction with the Historical Society,” said Sheila Powers, a library trustee. “Today has been successful, the weather certainly was a help.”
With temperatures in the mid-60s during the day, Sunday’s weather was perfect for the weekend’s outdoor events. Powers said that proceeds from the event will help fund library programs and events not covered in the budget, such as youth events and author talks.
At Quonquont Farm, about a half mile from the library, apple pickers wandered through the farm’s rows of apple trees searching for McIntosh and Macoun as dogs barked during the fourth annual Dakin Humane Society benefit brunch, Mutts and Mimosas.
Among those at the brunch were local residents Kathleen and Rob Wyckoff, who brought their two dogs, Kelso, a rat terrier, and a mini pinscher the couple adopted from Dakin named Minnie. Kathleen Wyckoff said the event was an opportunity to donate to the shelter and pick apples.
The event featured food for people and dogs, mimosas, a silent auction, raffle and farm stand followed by apple picking at Quonquont Farm.