Bowmanstown residents celebrated the spring season this past weekend with the Bowmanstown Family Activities Committee’s first spring festival.

Held at the fire company, the event included a basket raffle, concessions, vendors, music, agricultural displays and a craft area for the children.

Brandy Kresge, cofounder of BFAC, said 64 baskets were donated for the basket raffle.

“More than half were donated by community members, then the other portion were donated by the vendors that participated today, and then BFAC as an organization put together some filler baskets,” Kresge said.

Most of the basket raffle items pertained to the spring season and warm weather, including items for the beach, pool and other outdoor recreational activities. Baskets donated by vendors included prizes related to their respective businesses. Gift certificates from local businesses and nonprofits were included in the raffle as well.

People could also buy concessions or check out the wide variety of vendors.

Vendors included direct sales vendors like Scentsy and Tastefully Simple, crafters selling homemade items such as McNaughton Adventures, agricultural vendors like Swiss Villa and nonprofits such as local churches and the BARC.

Dakota Miller, an agricultural vendor and Bowmanstown local, attended the event with her pig Seymour and some baby chicks on display representing her business Our Little Egg Stand.

Found locally in Bowmanstown, Miller’s business sells an assortment of fresh eggs such as chicken and quail eggs.

“This whole thing started because my kid wanted chickens. Now we have a whole bunch of chickens and we sell chicken eggs,” Miller said.

Aside from buying eggs, attendees at Miller’s stand could purchase small treat cups for a dollar containing blueberries, carrots and celery to feed Seymour.

Miller said business during the festival was good and that a lot of the children there enjoyed seeing and feeding the animals.

For just a dollar, children could also take part in the festival craft area which included crafts such as painting suncatchers and growing their own sunflowers, just in time for the sunny spring season.

Volunteer Brynn Merkel and her brother Josh did face painting at the kids craft area as well during the event.

Although they had never done face painting before the festival, both of the siblings said that they liked to draw. Face paintings included designs involving animals and superheroes.

Brynn said she enjoyed her time at the event so far, planning to check out vendors and concessions later in the day.

She had also participated in the basket raffle earlier as well, stating that they had a lot of baskets that she put tickets in for. Josh said he put most of his tickets in for a skateboard that he was hoping to win.

Kresge said the organization started last September.

“We just started so we’re fairly new to it, but we try to plan events such as the Springfest that brings out community, helps small businesses, helps our local fire company and other organizations such as BARC (Bowmanstown Area Residents Connected) and the churches that are around,” she said.

Originally starting as a Trunk or Treat activity for local children in place of Trick or Treat in the fall, BFAC was born. Since then, members have been working hard to promote community involvement and aid small businesses.

Following the event, proceeds jointly contributed to BFAC costs as well as the Bowmanstown Fire Company for providing the venue.

Kresge explained the importance of supporting the fire company, noting that COVID-19 had impacted many of their usual fundraising events like so many other local groups.

“We hope in the future we can get bigger and reach out to help more local organizations as well, such as the churches or other groups around here.”

BFAC plans on hosting various seasonal events throughout the year including Fallfest and Winterfest. Fallfest is set to take place on Oct. 23 with a pumpkin patch and other fall festivities. Winterfest is set to take place on Dec. 11 including Santa Claus, a Santa’s workshop for the children and other winter-themed activities.

For more information on BFAC and their future events, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BowmanstownFamilyActivitiesCommittee.