ZELIENOPLE — More than 10,000 people gathered in Zelienople and Harmony this weekend for the 31st annual Country Fall Festival and the third annual Sleepy Hollow Festival.

Zelienople's Country Fall Festival was not only a celebration of the changing seasons, but also a celebration of local history.

“Everyone seems to have a good time. It's a relaxing time as the leaves are starting to turn,” said festival organizer Ethel Mae Hall, who has headed the festival for 16 years.

The International Mountain Men of Pennsylvania set up camp in Four Corners Park for the weekend, living just as people did in the 1800s.

That group has been at the festival since its beginnings 31 years ago.

“We love it,” the group's treasurer Gene Nagel said. “It gets a lot of public attention.”

Nagel and board of directors member Joe Morgan slow-cooked hams on an old-fashioned rotisserie. They said it takes about three hours to fully cook a ham over an open fire.

Other food that members lived on throughout the weekend included venison, vegetables, water and tea.

“It's a good camaraderie. People like it and we like people,” Morgan said.

IMM members stayed in tepees and had a myriad of activities and displays, including throwing hatchets and knives at a log target.

Other historical groups included Civil War re-enactors and the Butler County Spinners and Weavers Guild.

Guild members weaved yarn from different materials like cotton, wool, alpaca fleece and linen with a spinning wheel.

“It's demonstrating the art of making cloth,” said member Dawson Dibbern.

Local vendors also showcased their goods.

Jim Hoffman displayed his beekeeping hobby in the park.

Hoffman, along with Terry Shanor, had homemade honey and wax products for sale. There was also a beehive on display in a transparent container with 1,500 to 2,000 bees.

Hoffman called the festival his “biggest outlet.”

Another staple each year are the free horse-drawn carriage rides.

Dozens of people lined up at a time to ride the carriage, led by two Percheron horses.

“We enjoy dealing with people,” horse owner John Popp said. “I like the weather. It's easier on the horses.”

The ride headed down Main Street, West New Castle Street, Clay Street, West Grandview Avenue and back to Main Street.

Hall said she measures the festival's crowd by the number of people who ride the carriage.

“It departs every five or 10 minutes, and I would calculate how many people would get on,” she said. “Within a day and a half just riding that wagon, there were 2,500 people. I think we have quite a good attendance.”

Meanwhile in Harmony, this newer festival continued to make its mark in the borough.

The Sleepy Hollow Festival brought more attention to the area with its family-friendly activities.

Festival organizer MJ McCurdy said the festival has grown “tremendously” in its three-year existence.

Over two days, live music, art, a scavenger hunt and other activities gave families time to enjoy the mild fall weather together.

The Wandering Witches of Harmony costume contest and parade and fire hoopers also filled Mercer Street Saturday evening.

McCurdy said the success of the festival's first two years were a good sign of future success.