UNION SPRINGS - Spring was fully in Saturday afternoon in Union Springs.

Aside from the birds chirping, the trees and flowers in bloom and the breeze blowing off the lake, the village had another reason to get out and celebrate this year's long awaited spring.

The village was celebrating the first, of what may well become an annual, Union Springs Spring Fling.

The event, which originally was a planned as a fundraiser for the Frontenac Museum, quickly turned into a villagewide street festival.

Visitors and residents alike strolled the streets of Union Springs, enjoying the sun as well as all the best of what the village has to offer.

The many shops the line the main street took the opportunity to showcase their goods as well as offer other special incentives for visitors to stop by.

Numerous locations, like Legends, a bar and restaurant in the village, were offering things like music, face painting, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken barbecue.

Yardley Burgess, owner of Yardman's Antiques and Estate Sales, said that he believes that the Spring Fling is just the kind of thing that Union Springs needs to help draw attention to the village.

Burgess also just recently relocated his business up the street a few doors to a new, larger location, and said that this offered him the perfect opportunity to show off his new location.

“It is really good,” Burgess said. “I'm glad to see Union Springs do something like this. We are right here on the lake and this is a nice little town and this is a good way to let people know we are here and what we have to offer here in Union Springs. It is a really good day, food, fun and sun and there are a lot of people out here.”

Long-time resident Romayne LaBaron echoed the same sentiments as she walked around the village Saturday afternoon.

“I think this is great,” LaBaron said.

“This is great for the community. There is talk of doing a farmer's market. I would really like to see that happen. There is a lot of potential here. There are a lot of businesses on main street and the buildings are getting new faces and it is nice to see that that is starting to happen. I think this is a good way to help get us on the map, so to speak.”

Organizations like the boy and girls scouts, as well as the Union Springs Education Foundation were on hand discussing what they do.

Terry Chandler, of the education foundation, said that the group is designed to help support the education of students in the Union Springs School Central School District by helping raise funds to help meet student needs.

Chandler said the group has been in the planning stages for several years and that as of January it has received it non-profit certification.

The festival offered the perfect opportunity to share with the community just what the organization is striving to do.

“This is a great opportunity,” Chandler said.

“This gives us a chance to let people know we are here and what we are trying to do to help student sin our community.”

The festival also offered numerous inflatable bouncing rooms for children.

Sara Hahn, of Union Springs, brought her daughter, Brooke, 2, and her son, Mark, 6, out for an afternoon of playing.

“I think this is really nice,” Hahn said. “It is a really good day, and Mark really can't wait to get in the jump house. We're having a lot of fun.”