LIVERMORE FALLS — A crisp breeze tugged at each vendor’s tent, and the weather felt like autumn had arrived at the annual Apple Pumpkin Festival on Saturday.

The festival, held each year on the last Saturday of September, highlights the rich cultural, agricultural, and industrial heritage of the Livermore Falls area.

“This is a great day for it,” said State Sen. John Patrick, D-Rumford, who has been attending the festival for the past six years.

Hot coffee seemed to be a popular item at the tent in which Patrick was working.

Others, like Tami Wayboer of Shadow Hill Farm in New Gloucester, kept warm in different ways. Outfitted in a vest made from alpaca fiber, Wayboer explained the operations of the farm. There, she and her husband, Bob, care for their 20 alpacas, which they shear once a year to produce alpaca fiber. They process the fibers and use it to spin yarn that is then used in a variety of handmade products, including scarves, socks, gloves, mittens and woven rugs. The Wayboers market their alpaca products throughout Maine.

“We do 30 events a year,” she said.

Because she and her husband focus on tending to the animals and traveling with their products, only certain items are made by them.

“We leverage the alpaca coops to provide them with raw fiber,” Wayboer said. “Cooperative markets help pool raw materials from several farms to provide product manufacturers with a larger amount of high-grade raw material while helping keep prices fair for farmers.

“It’s an adventure,” said Wayboer, who also brought two of her alpacas, Zoro and Remi, to the festival. “People always ask, ‘What’s the difference between alpacas and llamas?’ It’s about 200 pounds!”

Alpacas weren’t the only four-legged creatures found at the festival. Canine Castle Academy of Livermore Falls had a large obstacle course showcasing their graduates.

“Dogs are like children, but they’re not furry human children,” said Beth Parker, who runs the academy as a fun and training center for pet dogs. “Obedience training doesn’t have to be boring.”

This seemed self-evident as her fellow dog trainer, Sue Turcotte, and her chocolate lab, Barney, demonstrated the obstacle course.

Parker pointed out that communication is the biggest issue between humans and dogs. Her academy works with dog owners on everything including behavior, obedience, agility and tricks.

The festival vendors also offered a variety of children’s activities, arts, crafts and food, ranging from candied apples to pumpkin pie. Many people enjoyed the live music under a tent, while nearby there was a robotics exhibition provided by students from the Spruce Mountain Area Robotics Team.

One student worked controls on a robot to lift containers, while there was another set of students demonstrating a one-person hovercraft skating along a plywood track.

Vendor Derek Keenan traveled from Skowhegan, where he operates Mainely Pallets and handcrafts rustic home décor. One particular item that he offered which seemed to attract a lot of attention was a wine bottle holder made from sections of live birch limbs or select driftwood from the Maine coast.

Keenan used to be a teacher, but after some success with his product, he decided to make it a full-time venture. 

“I earned a full year’s teaching salary during last Christmas season,” he said. “So I guess I retired from teaching.”