FACTORYVILLE — The first-ever Factoryville Fall Festival was so well attended last September as part of Christy Mathewson Day, organizers decided to keep the event during the month even though the Christy Mathewson “Big 6K” race was moved to August, due to lack of participation.

According to Factoryville Borough Manager Mary Ellen Buckbee, the festival drew a huge crowd to the Clinton Township and Factoryville Joint Municipal Park a year ago.

“The participation at the park was unprecedented from any other Christy Mathewson Day over the years,” Buckbee said. “We’re going to try to make the same kind of magic happen again.”

A parade, which will travel from the parking lot at Keystone College to the park, will kick off the event’s festivities at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.

According to Buckbee, the support from local organizations has played a huge role in the festival’s success.

“One of the most beautiful things of all is the amount of community members who pitch in to make it fun for everyone,” she said.

The Lackawanna Trail Parent Teacher Organization is organizing a basket raffle, Factoryville Boy Scout Troup 175 will hold a chicken barbecue, the Trail Rotary Club of Factoryville will sell a variety of baked goods, representatives from the Trail Youth Soccer organization will be selling picnic food and Commonwealth Health will offer a look inside one of its medical helicopters.

Manning Farm Dairy, of Dalton, and J’s Pizzeria, of Factoryville, will be among the food vendors.

The event will feature a watermelon eating contest for adults and a pie auction to benefit the Factoryville United Methodist Church.

Prizes for the funniest, cutest and most unique animals as well as those who perform the best tricks will be awarded during a Children’s Pet Show.

Buckbee added the festival will also have many activities for children to enjoy.

In addition to the park’s swings and three-story play structure, there will be a bounce house, a variety of kids games featuring pool noodles and hay bales, and a visit from two canine police dogs and farm animals.

A fireworks display at dusk will cap off the event.

Contact Buckbee at 570-945-7484 or manager@factoryville.org to sign up for the parade or pet show.

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By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.