COEUR d’ALENE — Ernest “The Successful Hobo” Moore, a local guitarist who says he’s about 50 years old, give or take, tried something different on Saturday.

Instead of setting up on a street corner — like he normally does at the Kootenai County Farmers Market in downtown Coeur d’Alene — the eccentric minstrel strolled the grounds, strumming his acoustic guitar and singing a few melodies.

“I’ve been playing the farmers market since before the turn of the century,” he quipped. “I decided to wear a Halloween costume today and be a roving musician.”

Using a mobile approach, Moore said, allowed him to fraternize with the crowd.

“It’s been fun,” he added. “I’ve been up and down the street, and said ‘Hi’ to everybody.”

Saturday’s market was the last hurrah before winter, the Fall Fest.

Vendors hawked fresh produce, crafts, jewelry and artwork. Juaquetta Holcomb of Newman Lake hand-spun yarn that she’d dyed herself.

“I’ve done the market for five years now,” she said. “And I do other art festivals all through the winter.”

Her soft wool comes from locally-raised sheep, Holcomb said. Her yarn and her handmade hats are quite popular.

Caroline Evans of Hayden Lake has lived in the area for 40 years. A regular at the Kootenai County Farmers Market, she was looking for ripe tomatoes at the Killarney Farm produce stand.

“I just love to support our local people, and all the organic fruits and vegetables,” Evans said.

Killarney Farm is a certified organic grower near Rose Lake. In addition to the usual produce, the farmers had cranberries, Jerusalem artichokes and garlic braids for sale at the Fall Fest.

“We’ve been coming here for 24 years,” said Killarney Farm owner Ellen Scriven. “(The Fall Fest) is a harvest market. It’s a special market. The last one of the season. The community’s very supportive.”

Consumers will have one more chance this year to sample the farmers’ fare. Craftsmen, artisans and farmers will return on Dec. 4 for an indoor event at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.