KENNEBUNK — This year, HarvestFest takes place Oct. 1. The day is filled with activities for everyone starting with two annual events the town has come to love: the Pancake Breakfast at Duffy’s and the book sale at the Kennebunk Free Library. From there, people are invited to enjoy the many activities set up along Main Street.

The parade takes place Saturday and is an annual ritual for the town. It will take place at 11:30 a.m., starting at Water Street, turn onto Dane Street, and finish at Park Street, where participants can loop back around to Main Street for the festivities. Children are invited to join in the parade by dressing up in their favorite costumes and waving to the spectators. Parents are welcome to accompany their children and participants don’t have to be a Kennebunk resident. The parade line-up takes place at 11:15 a.m. on Water Street.

At Waterhouse Center there will be crafters, food vendors, a rock climbing wall, pumpkin coloring, the Twisting Fun balloon man, a scavenger hunt, and more.

One new activity being added this year is a pumpkin carving contest. All are invited to carve a pumpkin at home then bring it down to Waterhouse Center to be put on display for a people’s choice award. Another new item is the giant pumpkin. Guess the weight of this mighty gourd to win a prize.

Festival committee volunteer Pat Nicholas is looking forward to the Festival. “Fall is a wonderful time of the year in Maine and HarvestFest exemplifies that,” said Nicholas, “The Kennebunk festival committee has pulled together décor, presentations, vendors and activities that weave together both the approaching culmination of the growing season and the eager anticipation of the holiday season.”

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, New England Cancer Specialists, a patient-centered medical oncology practice with a Kennebunk office, will have representatives to provide information and answer questions.

“We are looking forward to meeting our Kennebunk neighbors and sharing information about breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” said Victoria Foley, NECS’s marketing manager. Their table will be at the Waterhouse Center.

Demonstrations will take place throughout the day, including the Kennebunk Twirlers, a yoga demonstration with Mindy Muse Rivertree Arts will bring creativity, and Frinkelpod Farm will offer up some fall farm goodness. Many of the day’s events run until 3 p.m. For more information, visit the website kennebunkmaine.us/summerfest.