GROVE CITY — The 16th annual Grove City Fall Fest was a walk in the park.

Mary Kay Mattocks, festival chairman, said the festival is not designed to be big, but to get people to enjoy a fall day in Grove City Memorial Park.

“It's just laid back,” Mattocks said.

Usually, about 2,000 to 3,000 people come to the event, which was Saturday.

“It's pretty on par,” Mattocks said, noting that attendance grows through the day.

The event featured 50 crafters, a yard sale, hay wagon rides, children's activities and cooking contests. More than 300 pumpkins were available for children to decorate.

One of the most popular parts is the Scarecrows in the Park contest. This year, 29 scarecrows were entered.

“That's the biggest year we've ever had,” Mattocks said.

Organizers were worried about the heat and humidity from the previous weekend, but Saturday was mild and sunny.

This was a plus for Rose McEathron of Grove City, who said, “I love fall.”

She has been to the festival many times, and she enjoys the flea market and the children's items in addition to the ability to enjoy an autumn day.

Missy Auvil, McEathron's daughter, brought her 2½ year old daughter, Neva.

“She likes pretty much everything,” Auvil said about her daughter.

Jen Shaffer of Hermitage was there for the first time. She had heard about the variety of children's activities that her 5-year-old daughter, Kaylee, might like.

Of course, Shaffer found things to like as well.

“I like the scarecrow row,” Shaffer said.

Her daughter nodded her head when she was asked about the activities she liked. However, she gave a decisive answer when asked if she would want to return.

“Yeah,” she immediately said.

Sue Killian of Grove City was sitting under a tree with her family, enjoying French fries.

She said that there was a good selection of vendors, and she would return in the future.

“We can walk,” Killian said about getting there.

Nicole Dickens of Greenville came with her husband, Chris, and their two children. She enjoyed the fall decorations and the detailed scarecrows.

“It's cute,” Dickens said.

Although this was their first time at the event, they regularly come to Grove City's Strawberry Days festival, which is in June in the park.

“We like doing stuff around the community,” Chris Dickens said.