Looking to showcase a natural, historic site in South Framingham, the Framingham Downtown Renaissance will host the inaugural Farm Pond Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 13 at Farm Pond Park.

The noon to 4 p.m. event, will take place rain or shine and feature activities for families and residents.

The park and the pond, located on the west end of the downtown district, are the focus of the festival, which will feature music, food, games, art and lots of activities.

Students from the McAuliffe Charter School and the Framingham Girl Scouts are volunteering to run activity stations for kids.

There will be a bicycle workshop with the Good Time Community Earn-A-Bike program.

Framingham Police vehicles and Framingham Fire trucks re expected to make an appearance for kids (and adults) to explore.

Historic storyteller Libby Franck will take visitors back in time to Farm Pond's Harmony Grove-era, where the abolitionists and women's movement held events in Framingham.

Downtown businesses and organizations will have space inside a a "Curosity Tent." Entertainment is planned all afternoon.

The goal of the event is to showcase a "hidden gem" in Framingham, said Framingham Downtown Renaissance director Holli Andrews.

Andrews said attendees will be provided name tags. In addition to writing their first names, she is asking everyone write their vision for downtown Framingham. For example, a sprinkler park, movable sidewalks, a type of restaurant, etc. Andrews is hoping the event now only brings together the community but fosters a discussion on how to improve the community. "We want to hear everyone's ideas."

"We hope this festival will become an annual event," she added.

Farm Pond Park, located almost across the street from Cushing Memorial Park, is maintained by Framingham Parks & Recreation; but a group of Framingham State students have sponsored an ongoing-clean up effort around Farm Pond and hope to establish trails, with markers, said Andrews.

Framingham State University, the Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School, the Town of Framingham, Framingham Parks & Recreation, Mestre Tico Tico's Downtown Capoeira Studio and Fountain Street Fine Art Studios, which are located in the Bancroft building along the pond, are among the sponsors of the festival.

If you or your organization, or your business would like to volunteer or contribute in some way to the festival, please contact the Framingham Downtown Renaissance at holli@fdrms.org

Also like the festival page on Facebook.