DOWAGIAC — On any given weekday at Hidden Acres Farm in Dowagiac, goats, pigs and chickens roam free. However, at an upcoming event, the animals housed at the petting farm will have to share their land with 1,000-plus visitors.

Hidden Acres Farm, 50582 Pleasant Road, Dowagiac, will host its second annual Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The festival will include face painting, food, a bounce house, games, a DJ, and arts and crafts. The trunk or treat portion will be free to children, while entrance to the festival will be $5 per person. Organizers said Halloween costumes are welcomed, but not required for the event.

Following on the success of last year’s festival, which saw more than 1,000 children for the trunk or treat, owners of the farm say they are hopeful that this year will bring in as many, if not more, visitors.

“Everything that is up front is free, and everything that is through the gate is paid admission,” said Dawn East, who co-owns Hidden Acres with cousin Heather Matthews. “It should be a lot of fun.”

East and Matthews said the trunk or treat and fall festival is their way to give back to a community that has embraced their farm with open arms.

“There’s not a lot children can do in this community, so we are glad we can offer this fun event,” East said. “It’s amazing how there have been so many people to step up and help us if we are ever needing of anything. … We want to say thank you and give back by providing something free and fun with the trunk or treat.”

To prepare for the event, Hidden Acres is currently seeking candy donation for the trunk or treat event and volunteers to help with event clean up.

“Candy is primarily what we need donations for this year,” Matthews said. “Last year, we were going around the trunk or treat what seemed like every five minutes refilling candy. There was no one person alone that could have provided all that candy, so any help we can get would be wonderful.”

Matthews and East said that all money raised from the event and donations will go toward the animals they care for and to providing programs and field trips for children who visit the farm. Those willing to donate can drop candy or trinkets off at the farm. To donate to Hidden Acres’ Paypal account, visit hiddenacreshobbyfarm@yahoo.com, or call the farm at (269) 377-9759 to schedule a pick up.

Matthews said she hopes that the community will come out to the event and have a good time.

“This is a fun, safe event,” she said. “This is will be our last hurrah of the season, so it’s nice to see all the support we have and all the smiling faces of the children.”