MATTAPOISETT — Kids dressed in their Halloween best descended on Shipyard Park for the Mattapoisett Lions Club Fall Free Family Fun Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22. 

According to Mattapoisett Lions Club Secretary Timothy Ray, the fall festival is one of the many ways the club gives back to the local community. 

“We decided to put something together that is 100% free to the public,” said Ray. “It really is just a fun family activity, they can come out for a nice afternoon.”

According to Ray, the Fall Free Family Fun Festival was first conceived in 2016 by Mattapoisett Lions Club President Kimberly Ray. 

The event was sponsored in part by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, said Minhtram Tran, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office. 

“I think this is a great opportunity to come down to Mattapoisett and work with the Lions Club and bring some fun things to the kids here for Halloween,” said Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. 

A slew of activities from face painting to pumpkin carving brought children fall-themed joy. At a covered table, Marianne Demakis dressed up as the fortune teller “Pumpkin Patch, peered into childrens’ futures — and of course, only saw good things. 

Kids could also take a walk through a pumpkin patch and take home a free pumpkin. A table handing out boxes of apple juice, apple cider, whole apples and cookies gave children a chance to refuel after playing games of cornhole and “pumpkin bowling.” 

However, the biggest hit of the day was a hay ride that took children around Mattapoisett Village. The line for the ride stretched from the sidewalk to the gazebo in Shipyard Park. 

Edward Dowling, 3, took a ride around town with his family but was a little disappointed because “[they] didn’t go by [his] house.”