It’s also time for fall festivals.

In Panama, the Fall Foliage Festival will make its return for a second straight year, but a month earlier, and with more vendors, crafters, and demonstrators.

“Last year we did it at the end of October. We moved it up,” said festival organizer Jonathan Weston.

The festival will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 on the grounds of Panama Rocks.

Arts and crafts vendors, and food vendors, enjoy the weather, in 2022, during the Fall Foliage Festival at Panama Rocks. This year, the festival will be held on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 P-J Photos by Michael Zabrodsky

Weston said this year the festival will be bigger as the it is scheduled to have more than 60 vendors.

“We don’t want to have too many vendors that people don’t do well, but we also want to have enough vendors that if we have a big crowd, everyone’s happy, and there’s a lot to do,” Weston said.

Weston added that the focus of festival is on crafts. There is scheduled to be chainsaw carving, glassblowing, weaving, and blacksmithing.

“Also we have demonstrators as well demonstrating their crafts,” Weston said. “The demonstrators really are a highlight, along with the fall, Halloween atmosphere and vibe … The leaves are already starting to change and we should have some good colors.”

Weston added that some demonstrators will be auctioning off one of their works in a 50/50 drawing to benefit an area charity of their choice.

There will be live music by Davis & Eng, Josie Huffman, Velvet Waves Acoustic, and performances by Buffalo Aerial Dance. In 2022, axe throwing with Axcellent Adventures was a big draw. Patrons signed up in half-hour increments and threw axes at a board, resembling a dart board, about 20 to 25 feet away.

Food vendors, Weston said, include Lab Press Co.; Ramsey’s Food Truck; Best of Buffalo by Byron; CamaradERIE BBQ; Fowler’s Taffy; Eden Valley Creamery; Burning Asphalt; Panama Bee Farm, Gelati’s Italian Ice,Killa Kookies & Kream, and Tallulah’s Sweets.

There will be costume contests. Youth (ages birth to 12) costume contests will take place daily at 3 p.m. on the main stage, and adult (ages 13 and up) costume contests will be held at 3:30 p.m. There are horse-drawn wagon rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and face painting.

Admission to the festival is free, and if you want to go to the Panama Rocks scenic area, the admission is the normal daily rate Weston said. For more information visit panamarocks.com/foliage.html.