For this year’s Turning Leaf Fall Festival it was a year of firsts.
It was the first time in seven years that it was necessary to use the rain date. By the initial slight confusion notifying vendors, bands and attendees that was probably obvious. On the positive side, should there be a next time for a rain date it should go much smoother. Sunday also marked the first time Boyertown Area Fire and Rescue was on was on the scene with their apparatus for festival goers to investigate and admire. Cars were also on display for the first time and were quite the hit with both young and young at heart. On the lighter side of things Sunday’s acoustic stage marked a first (and second) as power cords were accidently unplugged from the source, twice. Sorry Ryan. When things go quiet they really go quiet.
The food vendors sold a lot of coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate but hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, patty melts and Dallas Fries are the things that festival memories are built on. It appeared that there were a lot of memories under construction again this year.
Perhaps the best thing about this year’s Turning Leaf was the weather. Sunday’s brilliant sunlight dried up Saturday’s rain and gloom quickly, by noon jackets became an option. Loyal Turning Leaf followers arrived by the carload and waited in the sometimes very long lines to ride the hayride, paint a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow. The bands played on and the park echoed with the sounds of music.
In the end all seemed to have a good day, using the sounds of music and laughter as an indicator. The committee learned much in this year of firsts and will discuss how best to apply this knowledge when it meets in the very near future.