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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Jackson Horvath rode a pony at the Sunset at the Farm event Sept. 22 at the MetroParks Farm.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Rylie and Aubrie Hoover posed on hay stacks after completeing the corn maze at the Sunset at the Farm event Sept. 22.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.John Mosey played music to entertain community members as they roasted marshmallows around campfires at the Sunset at the Farm event Sept. 22.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.MetroParks volunteer Ryan Walker handed out marshmallows at the annual Sunset at the Farms event Sept. 22.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Anna Godsen posed on a tractor at the annual Sunset at the Farm event Sept. 22 at MetroParks Farm.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Mark Horvath took a pony ride at the MetroParks Farms annual Sunset at the Farm event Sept. 22.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.The MetroParks Farms had free tractor rides Sept. 22 for the annual Sunset at the Farms event.
By JESSICA HARKER
On Sept. 22 the MetroParks Farm hosted their annual Sunset at the Farm event.
The event, which ran from 4:30-7:30 p.m., was a family-centered event to celebrate the beginning of fall and the return to school.
Carol Vigorito, Recreation and Education Director at the parks, said that this event has been running for decades.
“We have this beautiful farm here and we love to show it off and to showcase all the events that we have at the farms,” Vigorito said.
During the event the farms were open for people to walk through and see the animals, including two new kids and a calf that were born this year.
The farms also had displays that demonstrated the making of apple butter and apple cider that were also available for people to taste test.
The farms had a variety of free events, including a corn maze, old fashioned games including a sack race, tractor rides and free marshmallows to roast by a campfire.
“Its just kind of a way for people to enjoy learning a little about farm life at the end of the summer, just a celebration,” Vigorito said.
John Mosey provided entertainment during the event, playing the banjo for community members as they roasted marshmallows by the fires.
Pony rides and face painting were also available to the community for a fee at the event.
Food vendors were also present at the event.
“This event only runs because we have a lot of wonderful volunteers,” Vigorito said. “We have staff out here too, but its mostly the volunteers.”
Ryan Walker, a volunteer at the event, said that he enjoyed working during it because of the reactions of all of the children.
“When I see a kid’s face light up when I hand them their marshmallow, or they see the banjo, its great,” Walker said.
Vigorito said that the event usually attracts thousands of community members, which requires a range of volunteers to help the staff.
“They [volunteers] are riding wagons to make sure people are safe, monitoring the campfires, handing out marshmallows,” Vigorito said. “They are so important to this event every year.”
For more information about upcoming events at the Mill Creek MetroParks, go to www.millcreekmetroparks.org.