SAUGUS — The thunderstorms and rain didn’t stop volunteers, workers, and families from attending the Breakheart Reservation Annual Fall Festival Saturday afternoon to enjoy a day filled with family activities.
“We didn’t know if this was going to happen with the rain, but so far it has been great,” one visitor, Christian Vidal said.
Vidal spends a lot of time at the reservation but attended his first Fall Festival this weekend with his daughter, Ava.
The day was perfect for families to break up a rainy day, featuring face painting, scarecrow stuffing, mini-pumpkin decorating, marshmallow roasting, storytelling by John Porcino, and apple cider making with Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Park Ranger Dan Donovan.
“Anytime kids get to destroy things while making something, its always fun for them,” said Donovan after making a fresh batch of apple cider by grinding and mashing apples with a group of kids.
Kids were also excited to get a look at a DCR Mounted Unit and pet horse Mike Sullivan, mounted by Ranger Daniela Dana.
Bringing families together to see and enjoy all these amenities and what Breakheart can offer is why Friends of Breakheart Reservation and DCR put together the day.
“[The DCR and Friends of Breakheart] have been all about this fall festival for so long it’s great to see it come together,” said Jason Moreira, the DCR’s Visiting Service Supervisor at Breakheart. “I meet people here all the time who have lived in Saugus their whole lives but have never been up here.”
The Friends of Breakheart Chairman, Peter Rossetti, was also thrilled with how the day went and the opportunity it presented.
“We want to show the public our potential,” he said. “It’s great to see kids and family coming here and enjoying their day.
“Nowadays it can be hard to find a natural setting to unwind, but we have one right here just 15 minutes from the Statehouse, without traffic.”