OMSP plans Harvest Festival

Celebrate the colors of fall at Oak Mountain State Park this month during its annual Harvest Festival.

The event, planned for Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include children’s games and activities as well as local vendors including food, artisans and small businesses. There will be hayrides, marina rentals and inflatables such as a slide, obstacle course and bounce house, according to organizer Anna Jones.

The Alabama Wildlife Center will bring some of its glove-trained birds of prey, which act as education ambassadors, to meet the public, and the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center will also bring animal residents such as snakes and turtles. Both facilities are located within Oak Mountain State Park.

The Rusted Roof Barn, another OMSP facility, will offer mid-day pony rides for ages 3-12, as well as pictures with Cricket the miniature “unicorn.” Rides are $5, and pictures are $1, with a “fast pass” option to skip lines.

The Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society will let kids pan for rocks and minerals in a kiddie pool, have a geode cracking station, rock painting, educational activities about gemstones and “grab bags” that kids can take home with fossils, minerals and gems.

The Harvest Festival will be free, though regular park entry fees apply. Adult entry to the park is $5, seniors and kids ages 4-11 are $2 and children 3 and younger are free.

The festival will be located at the Day Use terrace. For more details about the event, search “Oak Mountain State Park Harvest Festival” on Facebook.