Thomaston — Children and books filled the hallway and gymnasium at the Thomaston Academy building Oct. 13 for the annual Children's Harvest Festival.

Sponsored by The Friends of the Thomaston Public Library, the festival featured activities including pumpkin and face painting, games, crafts and reading stories.

From noon to 3 p.m., children were the center of attention as adults read them stories and supervised the painting activities.

Alice Dashiell, a member of The Friends of the Thomaston Public Library, set up a special Hallway Bookshop near the checkout desk offering remaindered books at discount prices.

Dena Davis, another member of The Friends, set up her Barefoot Books, a local publisher of children's books, in the gym. All proceeds would go toward future programming for the library.

"This is something the library puts on for the community," Davis said.

Meanwhile, about a dozen young children sat on the gym floor in a circle while Joanna Hynd, children's librarian and interim head librarian, read aloud to them.

Library board president Janet Bosworth supervised the face and pumpkin painting. Some children not only had their faces painted in a Halloween motif, but also learned the technique of decorating the faces of others.

Courier Publications reporter George Chappell can be reached by phone at 207-594-4401 ext. 117, or by email at gchappell@courierpublicationsllc.com.