More than 100 local artists and vendors lined Crabapple Road on Saturday, Oct. 3, as Milton's annual Crabapple Fest filled downtown Crabapple with live music, food and family activities.

The free festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along a stretch of Crabapple Road closed to traffic, from the Heritage Walk/Crabapple Chase Drive roundabout to the intersection of Birmingham Highway and Broadwell Road. Additional activities spread across the Crabapple Market property, the Green and the City Hall parking lot, according to the city's event page.

The festival added a live music stage for the first time, set up near the southeastern end of Crabapple Road close to the Heritage Walk roundabout. Three bands played back-to-back sets throughout the day.

The Hits Squad opened from 10 a.m. to noon, Pick-up Line followed from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and Audio Vault closed out the afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m., according to the city's pre-event announcement. An Appen Media recap showed members of The Hits Squad performing on the new stage.

This year's KidZone, sponsored by Milton Montessori School, occupied a large open space behind the Green. The city listed three carnival rides, two obstacle courses, a toddler playland and a combo bounce-and-slide giant inflatable among the attractions. Six-year-old Luca Hendrix was photographed bouncing on the inflatable slides, according to Appen Media's recap.

Admission was free.

Next to the KidZone, the Children's Entrepreneur Market gave young vendors a space to sell their own products.

Two food-truck hubs offered a range of options. Flames & Skewers Street Food was among the vendors grilling under tents along the route.

Community groups turned out across the festival grounds. Milton Community Church members handed out balloons to families walking the route. Ruff Dog Rescue brought adoptable dogs for attendees to meet and pet.

The Milton Fire Department parked a truck at the festival, and children sat inside for a closer look.

Complimentary shuttle buses ran all day from four parking lots along Birmingham Highway: Milton Community Church, Crabapple Crossing Elementary School, Northwestern Middle School and Milton High School.

The city has not announced a date for the 2027 Crabapple Fest.