KINGFIELD — Families, friends and neighbors gathered at Mountain Village Farm Bed and Breakfast Saturday evening for the 5th annual Community Harvest Festival.

Eleanor Clement, 1, of Farmington checks out the sensory table at the Maine Mountain Children’s House 5th annual Community Harvest Fest Saturday. (Dee Menear/Franklin Journal)

The festival initially began as a fundraiser to support Maine Mountain Children’s House, a non-profit Montessori school located at 36 Salem Rd. The community embraced the event and it has grown each year, drawing visitors from around the state. This year funds raised will also go toward establishing a needs-based scholarship fund for students.

“Although we work hard to keep costs at MMCH low for families, it is a tuition-based program,” said director and lead teacher Bethany Mahar. “Tuition is used to sustain the program, pay staff, and maintain operating costs. In order to make the program more accessible to all families, we are working to establish a scholarship program.”

The festival featured local food, live music by Dyer and the Daydreamers, horse-drawn wagon rides, and plenty of festival games and activities.

Ryken Johnson, 3, of Carrabassett Valley plays at the Maine Mountain Children’s House 5th annual Community Harvest Festival Saturday. (Dee Menear/Franklin Journal)

 dmenear@thefranklinjournal.com