An unexpected and unseasonable wintry mix last Saturday prompted organizers to cancel the popular Fall Fest at the Kootenai County Farmers Market on Prairie Avenue and U.S. Highway 95.

It’s been rescheduled for this weekend.

“It definitely caught us off guard,” said Saturday Market Manager Beth Tysdal. “We were anticipating high winds and rain — but not snow.”

Despite the inclement weather, organizers tried to make a go of it.

“We had about four brave children who attempted to paint pumpkins in the snow, and that was the extent of it,” Tysdal said. “Our poor farmers had frozen eyelashes and snow-covered product — memorable, for sure.”

Fall Fest attracts thousands of people every year and includes free pumpkin painting, kid’s games and scarecrow making. Tysdal said there will be 125 scarecrow frames and more than 200 pumpkins on hand for kids to bring to life this year.

Music by the popular local trio Buck 99 will be performed.

Things look better this Saturday, Oct. 5, with the forecast calling for cloudy skies early and partial afternoon clearing and a high of 55 degrees. There is only a slight chance of rain.

Meantime, colder-than-normal weather is having an impact on the Farmers Market as the season comes to a close.

“Our farmers are coping with an early frost this year, which throws a wrench in their crop planning and sales plans,” Tysdal said. “But several of them have plans in place for dealing with this, wood stoves in their greenhouses, for example.”

Tysdal said October is generally one of the market’s best months for abundant produce, “so it will be interesting to see what this year holds.”

Following this weekend’s Fall Fest, there will be a customer appreciation day on Oct. 12, followed by the regular market on Oct. 19.

For information on the Kootenai County Farmers Market call (208) 773-3202.