Herring festival makes a splash in Middleboro
Justin Walley points out the herring to his daughter Rhea Walley. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Darlene Millette with grandsons Matthew Conlon and Patrick Conlon. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Families check out visiting alpacas. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Sofia Zuppe and Mila Zuppe get a bridgeside view. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Trapped herring are scooped up and removed to a more open area of the river. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
A snake soaked up the sun on the river. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Herring were abundant. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
The park had a festive feel. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Justin Walley points out the herring to his daughter Rhea Walley. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Darlene Millette with grandsons Matthew Conlon and Patrick Conlon. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Families check out visiting alpacas. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Sofia Zuppe and Mila Zuppe get a bridgeside view. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Trapped herring are scooped up and removed to a more open area of the river. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
A snake soaked up the sun on the river. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Herring were abundant. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
The park had a festive feel. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
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MIDDLEBORO -- There was something very fishy going on at Oliver Mill Park during the weekend.
The herring were running and ready to greet their public.
Perfect spring weather helped draw a crowd to the 13th Annual Herring Run Festival Saturday and Sunday April 11 and 12.
The chance to view herring making their annual run represented a major attraction. But there were also vendors, educational exhibits, musical entertainment and the opportunity to soak up the sun and the scene.
“We love this,’’ said Darlene Millette, who attended with her family. “It’s a fun, family event with a lot of cool stuff here. The kids have a blast.’’
“We enjoy everything here,’’ said Justin Walley, who was pointing out the fish to his daughter Rhea Walley.
She estimated they saw “104’’ herring, a number her dad noted with a smile might not be too far off the mark. They enjoyed their visit, he said, because “we knew the herring were running.’’
Some visitors also experienced a view of the herring up close when several fish wardens scooped up some of the fish to be transferred to a more open location a few yards away. Fish wardens are part of the Middleboro-Lakeville Herring Fishery Commission and help ensure the safety of the herring.
These herring had reached a “blind spot’’ in the river and got stuck, Carol “Krill’’ Carson explained.
“They’re stressing out trying to get through’’so she and another volunteer scooped up the trapped fish and relocated them.
Those trapped fish may have been the only ones stressed that day.
Sofia Zuppe, 15, described the festival as “cool’’ and “awesome.’’
She could have added educational to her description. “I learned how fish jump up the ladders’’ during their journey.
She also experienced that lesson first-hand, she explained enthusiastically. “I saw one jump.’’
“We always love to see all the vendors and learn about the fish,’’ said Katharina Callahan. “And it’s just a beautiful spot.’’
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