MIDDLEBORO — The 85-degree weather may have resembled summer but the pumpkins and hay rides at Soule Homestead Harvest Fair served as reminders that the fall festival season has arrived. 

The homestead’s harvest fair on Saturday, Sept. 10 gave visitors the chance to listen to live music, view demonstrations of saw mills and sheepdogs and participate in a variety of attractions and activities, including honey bee exhibits, fiber arts demonstrations and lawn games. 

“We’ve loved the Homestead for years,’’ said Cheryl Gardner of Plympton, who enjoyed the fair with her grandson, Henry Nunley, 3. “We’re pretty excited to get out with other people and the animals.’’

An affinity for the outdoors draws visitors both to the fair and to the homestead itself, said Jim Lough, executive director of the Soule Homestead Education Center. He noted that the center is open to the public year-round for people to walk and enjoy the grounds.

“People want that connection to nature and the traditional New England culture and that’s something we provide,’’ he said. 

The Soule Homestead Education Center serves as a community-based nonprofit education center to benefit area schools and the general public. The center offers hands-on learning opportunities such as environmental programs, organic farming activities, crafts and cultural events.

Soule Homestead board president Tia Quinn agreed that the traditional features draw visitors. The fair provides a chance for the community to “get back to nature’’ and enjoy a “down home’’ feeling, she said.

“It’s a kids’ day out,’’ said Susan Jeffries of Fall River.

Visitors could view and pat sheep raised by the Soule Kids 4-H, who take daily responsibility for the sheep that live at the center. “We come every night to feed them,’’ said club member Molly Quinn. They also train them to walk with halters so they can be brought to fairs throughout the area, she said.

Amanda Bumin watched her children Max, 3, and Estelle, 5, as they sat on one of the many tractors on display. The family recently moved from North Carolina to within walking distance of Soule Homestead.

“It’s really wonderful for kids,’’ she said, before stopping herself and chuckling. “And for adults.’’

The Horsman family picked their own pumpkins as they prepared to decorate for fall.

“We’re going home to carve,’’ LeeAnne Horsman said.