ST. MARYS, OH (WLIO) - People in St. Marys gathered on Sunday to celebrate fall and enjoy nature while it's still nice out.
There were dozens of vendors at the farmers markets and craft fair, and free activities like pumpkin painting.
The 55th annual Walk with Nature Fall Festival drew large crowds of people coming to enjoy different kinds of seasonal fun for all ages. There were dozens of vendors at the farmers markets and craft fair, and free activities like pumpkin painting.
The festival started out as a time for people to enjoy one last walk along the village's portion of the Miami Eerie Canal Towpath. It's still the most important part of the festival for many, and the city school bus drivers even pitch in to shuttle people from the end of the path back to Memorial Park.
"Our main focus is to walk the trail. One of the last times to get out, see the leaves changing before winter comes and the colder weather. And it is beautiful today, 70 degrees; it's wonderful. We have lots of walkers," said Angela Karen of the St. Marys Kiwanis Club, who is a co-chair of the festival.
The festival started out as a time for people to enjoy one last walk along the village's portion of the Miami Eerie Canal Towpath.
"The trail is beautiful to walk, especially on a fall day like today with the leaves changing and the weather nice. It's just a relaxing outside of St. Marys here from Memorial Park out to 40 Acre. It's just a beautiful, beautiful area," added PJ Fought, the executive director of the Heritage Trails Park District.
Both Kiwanis and the park district partner in hosting the festival each year. Fans of history could also explore the park's canal boat and talk to reenactors about war and homestead life.
