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Rain or Shine: Mill Creek MetroParks Farm celebrates end of summer
CANFIELD
Despite a sudden downpour of rain Saturday evening, Mill Creek MetroParks Farm kept the show going during its “Sunset at the Farm” event to celebrate the end of summer.
“Welcome to the world of the farm,” said Brenda Markley, agriculture education program manager at the farm, on state Route 46.
The free event featured a variety of fall-related activities such as folk music, old-time games, hayrides and homemade cider and apple butter.
“We’ve got a couple more days before the end of summer,” said Carol Vigorito, MetroParks’ recreation and education manager. Monday is the official last day of summer this year.
But many of the event’s activities are made possible by the work done during the summer, Vigorito says, including cutting the straw down for bedding for animals. It’s also now apple season.
Many of the activities were moved indoors when the rain came pouring down. Hayrides also were suspended as park staff waited it out before bringing out a covered wagon. Families that came out had to embrace the wet atmosphere when moving between attractions, which were spread out among the farm’s barns, classrooms and administrative facilities.
Last year, the event had about 2,600 people in attendance. It originated about 25 years ago at Mill Creek Park’s Lanterman’s Mill before it moved to the farms a few years later.
“We’ve been doing this for quite a while,” Markley said.
Rain or shine, the activities go on, regardless. Vigorito said it was about 10 years ago the last time it rained during the occasion.
Pony rides, face-painting and refreshments also were available for a small fee. The Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club also featured its display at the farm’s McMahon Hall. Melissa and John Capple of Canfield watched their two boys, John and Joe, enjoyed the train moving around the tracks.
“John-John loves trains,” Melissa said.
The family lives close by to the farm and has come out to the event for the past four years.
“We usually like to get on the hayride,” she said. “Except for today.”