Welcome, fall
Paislee Jensen, 7, of Athol, makes her pumpkin sparkly and fabulous as she decorates with Ailana Jonas, 5, left, and Altai Jonas, 3, during the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest on Friday.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Pie eating contest winner Gabriel Thompson, 11, of Athol, means business with his hat flipped backward as he chows his way to victory Friday at the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest.
"Spice Girls" Jacque Whaley, left, and Nadine Caufield talk seasonings as Whaley tries a DC Seasonings original blend during the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest on Friday. Nadine and husband David own the Hayden Lake-based DC Seasonings, which makes regular appearances at the Athol Farmers Market.
Betty Schneider is surrounded by creative crafts she and her husband Verle make for their business, Wood and Glass Creations, during the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest on Friday.
Presley Willis, 10, of Spirit Lake, chills with her Rex rabbit Fred during the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest. According to Presley, Rex rabbits are one of the softest rabbits in the world.
ATHOL — The sweet-salty aroma of freshly popped kettle corn and comforting scent of brewing spiced apple cider embraced the olfactories of those who wandered into the Athol Farmers Market Fall and Music Fest in Athol City Park on Friday.
It was a cheerful scene — children painted pumpkins and ran amok on the playground, barbecue smoke drifted from a food truck and the rain slowed to a sprinkle just in time for everyone to enjoy the occasion without hiding under umbrellas.
For a few hours, life seemed normal again.
"I like that there's a way to celebrate the changing of seasons," said Janahlee Jonas of Athol, who brought her three little ones with her. "It's fun, and it's good to celebrate that."
Mom Ashley Jensen, also of Athol, smiled as she told her daughter, Paislee, 7, to leave some glitter for other kids as she added sparkles to the little gourd before her.
Jensen said she enjoys community events like this because it's a way for neighbors in the Athol community to come together and enjoy each other's company.
"There's always free things for families to do so you don't feel pressure," she said. "When they do Athol Daze, the library comes and they let you have a book, and then they have free snow cones from Athol Baptist. It's just nice to have an event that's not all the way in Green Bluff."
Free samples of delicious local wares were offered by friendly folks, and vendors invited visitors to learn more about produce literally grown in their own back yards.
Presley Willis, 10, of Spirit Lake, chilled on a hay bale with her Rex rabbit, Fred, under the All About Paws tent. All About Paws is a Ponderay pet food and specialty shop with fully equipped self-serve wash stations and a service grooming salon.
"It's a lot of fun," she said of the festival. "There's a lot of fun things to do."
A highlight of the afternoon was the apple pie eating contest. Gabriel Thompson, 11, of Athol, took a bite out of the competition when he won this year's championship title by eating more pie than anyone in just four minutes.
"I darn near ruined my appetite," he said after the contest.
When asked how he felt afterward, he grimaced a bit.
"Not very good anymore in the stomach!"
