ZELIENOPLE — The Country Fall Festival on Saturday and Sunday allowed residents to celebrate the autumn months with a long-cherished hometown style.

This year marked the 29th annual festival along Main Street at the Four Corners Park. Visitors were given an ample amount of family entertainment, including pony rides, a plethora of craft vendors and a Civil War re-enactment.

The festival also featured various events throughout the day in Harmony as part of its “Sleepy Hollow” Festival activities.

Ethel Mae Hall, the lead organizer of the Country Fall Festival, has been involved with the event every year.

“We like to keep it very country,” Hall said.

While the general theme of the event is the same every year, Hall said organizers do like to mix it up a little.

“I think of it a little like Christmas,” she said. “Every year you have the same things like the tree, but you add in new traditions as well.”

Hall said the chance to promote the town has been one of the most enjoyable parts of organizing the festival.

“People want to be part of an active community,” she said. “I know of people that have settled here after visiting some of the festivals and parades. Anything you can do to draw people to the community is a good thing.”

And drawing people is exactly what organizers this year did.

Thousands of people filled the downtown throughout the day.

One of the most popular attractions was a historic encampment nestled between Grandview Avenue and West New Castle Street.

The block featured mountain men, a horse-drawn wagon and Civil War historians leading the presentations. Guests got the chance to participate in historic activities such as throwing a tomahawk.

Edward Boots, a Civil War buff, was one of the historians leading the discussion.

Boots was presenting in honor of his third great-uncle by the same name. Boots' uncle died as a prisoner of war in Georgia during the war.

“I like to do this in his memory,” Boots said.

Boots' ancestor was part of the 101st Pennsylvania Regiment, which was formed in Zelienople.

Boots said the local connection makes the fall festival his favorite place to present.

“I've been doing this for 15 years and this is always my favorite event of the year,” he said. “There's lots of people and lots of good questions. If you're trying to teach history, you couldn't ask for a better crowd.”

While adults got a good taste of local history, there was plenty for children to do as well.

Pam Mashuda was attending the festival with her grandchildren, Zachary, 6, and Lily, 9.

Lily said her favorite part of the festival was the horse-drawn carriage ride, while Zachary preferred riding the ponies.

“It was really fun,” he said.

The pony ride and petting zoo area was a favorite attraction for many young children.

“I really liked all the animals,” said Katie Probst, 9.

Probst was attending the festival with her mother, Jeanne Probst of Franklin Park, Allegheny County.

Jeanne Probst said she and her daughter had visited the festival each of the past two years.

“I think it's a great festival,” she said. “Everyone seems to have a good time. And it's something different for the kids to do.”

Giving families something different and fun to do is the main goal of the organizers.

“I like to see all the people enjoying themselves,” said Hall. “The best thing is seeing people doing things together and having fun doing so.”