WOODLAND HILLS : Harvest Festival Returns Saturday

The annual Harvest Festival, a Pierce College tradition that was canceled last year for the first time in 45 years, will return Saturday.

After the agricultural department decided not to hold the event in October because of what it saw as a lack of enthusiasm, the Associated Students Organization and the Coalition to Preserve and Revitalize the Pierce College Farm took over its sponsorship.

“We wanted to keep the tradition alive,” said coordinator Margo Murman, coalition chairwoman.

Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival will take place at Victory Boulevard and DeSoto Avenue near Cicero Farms. In the past, the events were held near the agricultural building. Joe Cicero, who operates Cicero Farms, will combine his Halloween festivities--farm animal exhibits, hay rides and pony rides--with the festival this year.

Activities will include face painting, jack o’ lantern carving and costume contests, Murman said. Also scheduled are a llama exhibit and demonstrations of Angora rabbit and sheep-wool spinning.