All dressed up with somewhere to go

Cathy Rosati was carrying an abnormally large chick in her arms Saturday afternoon.

Joey, her 13-month-old son, was zipped into a baby chicken costume for the Kenneth Village Fall Festival, smiling and gurgling in the bright yellow, round outfit.

“He’s probably like, ‘Get me out of this thing’,” Rosati, of Santa Clarita, said as she bounced him a bit. A small tuft of feathery yellow on the headpiece of his costume leaned in the breeze.

Warm weather, early trick-or-treating, raffles, live music, refreshments and a costume parade were some of the highlights at this year’s 16th annual Fall Festival in the village.

During the evening there was a concert and fashion show hosted by the Audrey K. Boutique.

In the afternoon, children were dressed in their Halloween get-ups, carousing with rabbits, sheep, goats and ducks in the petting zoo and hopping like colorful jumping beans in moon bounces.

Nicole and Jim Berklas, of Glendale, had never been to the Fall Festival. They brought their three children along in full costume for the event.

Gage Berklas, 4, was dressed as Thomas Jefferson with a powdery white wig and green petticoat. His brother August, 4, was dressed as Abraham Lincoln, full beard, stovepipe hat and all.

“I didn’t decide entirely,” said Nicole Berklas of the boy’s presidential costumes. “[August] decided he wanted to be Abraham Lincoln.”

Gage Berklas followed suit.

Their sister Laura, 6, went as Ariel the mermaid princess, from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” animated film.

This was the first year for the family who have lived in north Glendale for about six years, Nicole Berklas said.

“It’s just another opportunity for the kids to get out and see some of their neighbors,” she said.

Neighbors like Dawn Velazquez and her 3-year-old daughter, Parker. Their family has been coming to the festival for about eight years, Velazquez said.

“We look forward to it,” she said. “It’s a nice, friendly place. It’s really got that small-town feel. It reminds me of Mayberry.”

Parker was dressed as a monkey fairy, in a monkey suit her grandmother made for her with pink wings attached and a pink crown on her head. She was deeply engrossed in an ice cream cone.

“She wanted to be both but couldn’t make up her mind,” Velazquez said.

The tradition of the festival has a dual purpose as well, said Chrissy Lingua, owner of Chrissy’s, The Haircolor Experts in Kenneth Village.

“It’s a draw for the business owner and a draw for the community,” Lingua said. She has owned her shop for six years.

“We try to put on a nice time for the kids,” she said. “It’s retail for us but it gives something to the community, too. It’s a safe place for the kids to trick-or-treat . . . it’s kind of a win-win for everybody.”

 RACHEL KANE covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3205 or by e-mail at rachel.kane@latimes.com.