ORANGE PARK - This year’s 42nd annual Fall Festival was a colossal success. 

Festival Manager Emily Dockery said the town expected 45,000 visitors for the two-day event. With musical performances, entertainment and around 215 vendors to choose from, there was plenty for everyone to indulge in.

As some roamed around scoping out arts and crafts, home decor, voting and child services booths, others stood in long lines waiting for a taste of barbecue, Filipino and southern cuisine. 

For John Rafalski, it was his fourth time setting up a booth for RAF Creative Art. The Fall Festival is Rafaski’s only showing. 

“It’s a hobby,” he said. “My wife gets tired of paintings piling up in the house, so it’s my opportunity to move some out and pay for art supplies to keep going for the coming years.” 

This was Brittanie Holtz’s second year setting up her vendor. As the owner of The Sunny Dog Co., a dog bandana business, she said it was great to have crowds of people stop by and look at her sewn creations.

It was also Chadwick Hurston’s first year as the new owner of the popular PlantKingUSA. He said he had plenty of returning customers and plant fanatics stopping by.

Dockery said people came out earlier than the festival is used to seeing, even having one vendor ultimately sell out of product on the first day. She said to accommodate more food vendors this year even prompted the town to make some layout adjustments. 

“This is the first year we’ve spread into the police station parking lot,” she said. 

With great weather and a smooth run, Dockery said she was pleased with this year’s turnout.