Despite rain early Saturday, the annual festival in Buxton proved a hit, attracting new families with young children, an organizer said.

The event at Tory Hill couples Buxton Community Day with the annual fair sponsored by the Dorcas Society of Hollis and Buxton.

Special features included a road race, car show, and a kids’ Picnic with Elsa, modeled after a Disney movie character. Fireworks capped the festival.

“I think overall it went very well,” a Dorcas Society organizer, Beverly Atkinson, said this week.

“It rained early, and though we were drenched with water between tents, all went great,” another Dorcas Society organizer, Sharon House, said Tuesday. “So many young people enjoyed the Elsa event and that brought back the community feeling of the country fair we have always loved.”

Atkinson and her husband, Richard “Sandy” Atkinson, opened their barn and grounds at the historic Brewster Mansion for tours and hosted a car show outside. She said quite a few families from neighboring communities, including Gorham, Portland and Westbrook, viewed historic displays in the barn.

In the barn, kids munched on free cookies and lapped ice cream cones.

“We’ve had a fantastic turnout,” she said as visitors strolled through the barn.

Patty Veayo of Farmington, a teacher who was born in Buxton, accompanied by her father, Louis Emery of Buxton, as they toured the barn and paused to view a collection of photos depicting long-ago scenes in Buxton. Emery, representing his family’s 12th generation in town, is a former Buxton selectman.

“He’s my tour guide today,” Veayo said..

But, outside rain showers did dampen the car show, reducing numbers from an anticipated 60 cars to 17. Catherine Lamson of the Dorcas Society said Saturday the oldest car in the show was a 1929 Studebaker, a seven-passenger sedan owned by Paul and Felicia Baresel of Buxton.

Hope Chernesky of Houlton and her aunt, Dorcas Society President Carla Turner of Hollis, wandered among the cars. Chernesky played the violin as they checked out the classic cars.

Paul and Nellie Hanson of Standish entered the show’s second oldest classic, a 1930 Model A Ford. Paul Hanson said it had been driven only 52 miles since he restored it.

The cars were displayed on the landscaped grounds behind the Brewster barn. Lamson said the car show attracted new people to this year’s fair.

“We will do it again,” Lamson said.

The annual 5K race attracted 65 runners.

“The road race was fabulous,” Tasha Pinkham, Buxton Recreation Department director, said this week.

During the day, Revolutionary War re-enactors periodically touched off cannons and muskets that thundered and sent smoke across Helen Bruce Park.

The Dorcas Society’s luncheon under a tent on the Tory Hill Church lawn proved popular as usual.

“We had compliments on the lobster rolls and luncheon items,” House said.

House also said people enjoyed the display in the church of vintage garments dating back to 1850. A musician entertained on the church lawn during the luncheon.

“We especially loved the music by Bob Cosigan,” House said.

The crowd at night for the fireworks was not as big as usual, Pinkham said, but enthusiastic.

“People were clapping and cheering,” Pinkham said.

Buxton Police Chief Michael Grovo described the display as “really beautiful. The fireworks were awesome.”

The Buxton Community Day was scaled back this year with no midway, demonstrations, bands nor vendor booths at Weymouth Park.

Atkinson said families with young children were “ecstatic” about the Picnic with Elsa held under a tent.

“I didn’t hear one negative comment all day,” Beverly Atkinson said.

Providing some classical music at Saturday’s classic car show during the Dorcas Society’s Fair in Buxton, Hope Chernesky of Houlton plays the violin while her aunt, Carla Turner of Hollis, chats with Paul Baresel of Buxton, who owns the 1929 Studebaker. Turner is president of the Dorcas Society. Staff photos by Robert LowellLouis Emery of Buxton and his daughter, Patty Veayo of Farmington, are pictured near a display of historic photos in the barn at the Brewster Mansion on Saturday’s festival in Buxton.Paul Hanson of Standish lifts the hood to display the engine of his 1930 Model A Ford at the car show held on the Brewster Mansion grounds in Buxton during the annual fair sponsored by the Dorcas Society of Hollis and Buxton on July 18. Hanson said his car had only 52 miles since he restored it. It was the second oldest car of 17 in the show, behind a 1929 Studebaker. Early morning rain dampened the turnout of cars.