A group of motivated individuals in Stanfield have their sights set on bringing back movie nights in Bard Park next summer. One way the group has tried to raise money for the venture was by hosting the Fall Festival in the park over the weekend, which drew crowds of parents and children.

Organizers said they were surprised at how many people came out for the festival. Cecili Longhorn said a group of residents were inspired to put on the festival as a fun way to bring the community together for a good cause.

This has been a great effort by a lot of people around here, Longhorn said. It started as a group of community members that wanted to do something for the town and raise money for movies in the park next summer.

More than 100 people with their costumed children in tow attended the event, which included a hayride to the haunted house at the public library, face-painting, a hay maze and other family oriented games and events. Children decked out as witches, ninjas, butterflies and police officers got lost in the hay maze, cooked smores over a flame and jumped around a bounce house, as volunteers manned various other games around the park.

Longhorn and others decided to take the reigns of the festival that was previously hosted by the local parent/teacher association. After the PTA indicated it would not be able to put on the event, community members stepped in to fill the void. Co-organizer Jason Sperr said locals wanted to continue the festival, so he and others got together and made it happen.

We wanted to continue this because there had been a good turnout in the past, Sperr said. Its something fun for parents and kids in the fall, and we wanted to continue movies in the park. The turnout has been great. I wasnt expecting this many people to come out.