(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, James Farley guides a pony ride for Madison Board at the Harvest Moon Festival, Saturday afternoon.

PARKERSBURG — City Park was filled with families, vendors and music Saturday as the 63rd annual Harvest Moon Festival brought an early taste of fall to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The longtime event, hosted by Wood County Recreation, was condensed into a single day this year but still drew an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people, according to organizers.

“The turnout has been really good today, which is awesome,” said Kela West, assistant for Wood County Recreation. “We moved it down to one day this year, and it hasn’t really changed the atmosphere or the number of people.”

The festival featured dozens of craft vendors selling handmade goods ranging from fall décor to early Christmas gifts. Food trucks lined the park, and activities included pony rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, a caricature artist and live music throughout the afternoon. One of the demonstrations that drew a steady crowd was the traditional apple butter stirring, a popular staple of the event.

“It’s just kind of like a kickoff to fall in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and I love it,” West said. “I hope people have a really fun day, enjoy some family time, let their kids play and learn about Wood County Rec, because we’re the ones who put it on.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Attendees to the 63rd Harvest Moon Festival in City Park flock to check out the wares vendors have to offer on Saturday.

Proceeds from the festival support Wood County Recreation programs, including scholarships that allow children from families in need to participate in sports such as basketball, volleyball and cheerleading. Registration for those programs will open in November at www.woodrecreation.com.

For many residents, the Harvest Moon Festival is a yearly tradition.

“My kids are obsessed with the petting zoo, and I love getting some shopping done from the local crafters,” said Sarah Miller, a Parkersburg resident.

Among the performers was a group led by musician Lex Bauman. Band members said they formed after meeting through social media and music camps, and they have been working together for about two years.

“This is pretty much just my life,” Bauman said. “These guys came in and helped me out, to improve this thing. I’m the mind behind it, but it’s one of the things I love doing.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour0 From left, Preston French, Lex Bauman and Jackson Daw perform during the Harvest Moon Festival in City Park.

Bauman said the festival offered a chance to share their music with supportive crowds.

“We just love this town, and we want to help them out, like everything we can do,” he said. “This town’s treated us really well.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Denver Lohri gets help feeding one of the ducks at the petting zoo from Madison Miller during the 63rd Harvest Moon Festival at City Park, Saturday.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Lawanda Cress stirs apple butter during the 63rd Harvest Moon Festival in Parkersburg.