By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

The 14th annual Fayetteville Festival will take place from noon to dusk on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Beard Park.

While ringing in autumn, the family-friendly event in the park on Lincoln Avenue will feature live music as well as booths presenting information about local civic services and non-profit organizations.

“It’s a platform to highlight the groups that support our community,” Deputy Village Clerk Karen Shepardson said.

Started in 2006, the yearly festival gives these organizations the opportunity to sign up more volunteers or simply raise awareness, Shepardson said.

People representing local churches, Scout troops, Clear Path for Veterans and On My Team16 as well as personnel from the Manlius Police Department and the Fayetteville Fire Department will be among those present.

Walking tours along Ledyard Canal will begin at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., starting at the Fayetteville Free Library booth.

There will also be plenty of live music with Skip Murphy & The Merry Pranksters scheduled to perform at 1 p.m., the Party Nuts following at 4 p.m. and the DeSantis Orchestra (sponsored by Geddes Federal Savings) playing at 6:30 p.m.

The village will also bring in magician Chris Wheeler, food trucks, bounce houses, games, raffles, an obstacle course and a face painting station for the event.

For the occasion, the village trustees plan to prepare a birthday cake celebrating the village’s 175th anniversary, while reusable bags highlighting the anniversary will be on sale.

“It’s a party atmosphere,” Shepardson said. “Cake always makes it more of a party.”

The booths will be taken down at 5 p.m., and fireworks will be launched into the sky around dusk to close the festival.

The Fayetteville Festival will be sponsored by Landscapes East, Barton & Loguidice, Allied Sign Company and Kinsella Quarries.

Parking for the festival will be available in the school lot next to Beard Park and to a limited extent along the sides of the park.