Every year, East Lansing residents gather under a crisp fall sky to celebrate the changing of seasons at the East Lansing Farmer’s Market Autumn Fest.
Autumn Fest features a plethora of activities that comes with fall, including painting pumpkins, gathering around a bonfire and munching on doughnuts and cider.
Family community service senior Alexis Payne was a volunteer at the event. She said Autumn Fest provides the perfect fall atmosphere and is a chance for families to get out and have fun together.
Advertising junior Esther Okunrounmu was also a volunteer and said her favorite part about the festival is being in the midst of a close community and seeing all the kids having fun.
“Everyone should be out here enjoying the season,” Okunrounmu said.
Lezlee Worthington, a volunteer for the East Lansing Public Library, said she loves to see all her friends from StoryTime at the library. Many of the same kids who attend StoryTime come to Autumn Fest, increasing the sense of community for families.
She also said that as a city, East Lansing tries to incorporate a lot of walkability, cultural features and a food-to-table environment. She said Autumn Fest embodies all those features.
Autumn Fest was coordinated by the Community Relations Coalition, East Lansing Public Library and community volunteers.
Ami Van Antwerp , East Lansing’s communication coordinator who helped organize Autumn Fest, said the event brings the community together.
“People love the farmer’s market and they love this event,” Van Antwerp said.
She also said it creates a bridge between vendor and customer. The vendors get a little more involved than usual, providing decorations and materials for the events such as pumpkins and cider.
Baked goods vendor Diane Allarding said the extra activity from Autumn Fest always helps business at the farmer’s market. October is not only a time for fall activities — there is also a wide variety of autumn food products.
Allarding said the event is a win-win situation because it helps farmers connect with the community and reminds people to support where their food comes from.
Van Antwerp said the event was created to keep the farmer’s market front and center in everyone’s mind and create a fun day for both new and regular customers.
She also made note of the changes at Autumn Fest.
“Last year we added the horse and carriage rides, that’s a really fun thing I’m excited to bring back this year,” Van Antwerp said. The bonfire was a new addition for 2014.
The community can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2015 — Van Antwerp said people ask about the event throughout the year.
