BLOOMINGTON - More than 300 people had already attended the Harvest Festival '07 in its first 45 minutes on Saturday at the Interstate Center. | Photo gallery

"It wasn't even sunny yet," Kate Burcham, manager of the Interstate Center, said as a cool wind blew through her hair.

By noon, more than 500 people had participated in activities at the first such harvest festival sponsored by the Pantagraph and the Interstate Center. The event ran from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the center, 2301 W. Market St., Bloomington.

"We just got here, but as soon as I saw the S'mores, I had to have one," said Katie Price of Normal, who toasted a marshmallow over an open fire.

Other fest participants rode on hay wagons, perused the pumpkin patch, painted pumpkins and explored a maze made of hay bales.

Some rode a twirling carnival ride with cars shaped like pumpkins, took pony rides, had photographs taken, and browsed the flea market.

"It's really fun. We're happy with the turnout," Burcham said.

"The event was created to give families another choice of free, fun things to do this time of year," said Abby Walsh, the Interstate Center's sales and catering manager.

A few activities had a price tag to cover the cost of supplies, such as $10 to build a scarecrow, Walsh said.

A variety of businesses and organizations helped run activities throughout the day, she said.

The abundance of spooky ghosts, princesses, ghouls and other costumed children made this event a little different from some fall fests.

A costume contest at 2 p.m. was a highlight, but throughout the day, children who had their faces painted by Mickey Lower of Heyworth, known as the Zoo Lady, added color and excitement to the event.

Lower said she enjoyed matching faces to the costumes. "There's variety," she said, already having painted lions, tigers, robots, superheroes and princesses.

Kale Hunt, 18 months, had his face painted as a lion to match the lion costume his mother, Erika Hunt, bought on eBay.

Those getting their faces painted watched cartoons on a large screen inside the center. It was warmer there than outside, where the temperature peaked in the high 50s.

Those warming themselves around a campfire included Chris Rhodes and sons, Ben, 8, Nicko, 6, and Chaz, 3.

They listened to storyteller Mike Lockett, who was on stage. Chris Rhodes also showed his sons how to make S'mores, piling the marshmallows and chocolate onto the graham crackers for them.

They sat on hay bales together and didn't look like they were in a hurry to leave. "When we go home, they have work to do," Chris Rhodes said.

Three-year-old Jack Miller, with paintbrush in hand, created a rainbow pumpkin. He smiled with glee at his creation.

"This year, he gets what it's about," his mother, Raney Miller, said of Halloween.

"I've got rats," he explained with excitement about the rubber rats that were decorating his home for the season.

Jack will be a ghost on Halloween and thinks the family dog should be a "scary frog."