FAIRFIELD — Zoey Littlefield pleaded with magician Carroll Chapman to choose her as his assistant Saturday at Lawrence Public Library.

The 8-year-old from Benton, sitting on the floor in the front row, was enthusiastic and raring to go.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as they say.

Soon, she was front and center, holding a silk handkerchief from which Carroll plucked a long, multi-colored ribbon.

Zoey squealed and the audience of more than 40 applauded.

The magic show was just one of several activities hosted by the library as part of its fall festival. Littlefield’s grandmother, Katrina Corson, videotaped the magic show and said she was having a lot of fun.

“Oh, I love it and I think she’s loving it, too,” Corson said.

Children and adults of all ages arrived in costumes, including those of witches, fairies and princesses, to paint pumpkins, play pumpkin tic-tac-toe, take part in games and engage in crafts. Businesses were generous in helping ensure the festival was lively, with Johnny’s Selected Seeds donating pumpkins, The Apple Farm offering a large basket of apples, Hillman’s Bakery supplying pastries and the Knights of Columbus providing grilled cheese sandwiches, popcorn and hot chocolate.

Library Director Alyssa Patterson said she was pleased with the turnout, particularly because she wasn’t sure what to expect as the event was changed from Thursday to Saturday this year, and tweaked a bit. The library, she said, has hosted a fall event for more than 20 years.

“It started out smaller and then it grew,” she said.

The expected rain held off, so some activities, including pumpkin painting, could be held outside.

Under a tent, Leo Shorey, 4, of Anson, and Brenna Stevens, also 4, of Fairfield, painted pumpkins with sponge brushes, with Shorey slathering a coat of gray on his pumpkin and then doing a second coat in black. Shorey’s mother, Hilary Shorey, said they typically visit her father in Fairfield where she grew up and enjoy taking part in library activities.

“Mr. Drew and His Animals (Too) was a huge hit a couple of months ago,” she said. “He had snakes and tortoises, tarantulas and cockroaches.”

Stevens’ grandmother, Deanna Daub, said Brenna attends story time at the library occasionally. They were looking forward to other activities being hosted Saturday as part of the festival.

“I’m just so glad they have it,” Daub said. “I love library activities.”

Music by the group Bien Sur was on tap for early afternoon at the event, which started at 10 a.m. and was scheduled to continue until 2 p.m.

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