BOSTON — The cooler, fall temperatures brought the crowd out in droves for the 28th annual Boston Mini-Marathon and Festival on Saturday.

Participants cheered on the racers in the half-marathon, 5K walk and one-mile Fun Run or browsed the variety of arts & crafts vendors displaying their wares as they awaited the various competitions (such as a chili cook-off and costume contest) and parade scheduled throughout the day.

Richard and Shirley Barnes came from Michigan for their first mini-marathon, bringing their art of constructing collapsible wood baskets to the event.

“They are all collapsible and made out of different woods,” said Shirley Barnes. “My husband makes them and I help. We soak them in (a form of) lemon oil and the baskets can hold any form of dry goods.”

Tyroneck Herring, 5, Montavia Pickett, 4, and Shania McCoy, 4, spent time bouncing around inside the inflatable bounce house, but said they most enjoyed taking trips down the inflatable slide next to it.

Will Reynolds, 10, read a book while Cage, 9, Zeb, 3, and Debi McCullers awaited marathon stragglers to cross the finish line and the start of the 11:30 a.m. parade.

Cage and Zeb McCullers and Reynolds were looking forward to the parade because of the candy entries traditionally throw to the crowd.

Debi McCullers, who lives in Boston, said her family tries to attend the mini-marathon every year.

“It brings a lot of people to our town and helps support our local businesses,” she said. “It’s also a good way to bring our community together for a day of family fun.”

The parade featured local beauty queens, businesses, bands and politicians, as well as re-enactors of the Battle of Boston.

A few classic cars were spotted on the street, set up for passerbys to examine and ask questions.

Joe Miller, of Tampa, Fla., and George Johnson, of Tampa and Boston, checked out a 1932 Ford deuce coupe owned by Victor and Donna Seay, of Boston.

“I like everything about this car,” said Miller.

Johnson has a 1957 Chevy pickup and enjoys seeing the cars owned by other collectors.

Victor Seay said the Ford is a “tribute car” to the 1950s-60s hot rods. He and wife Donna dressed the part, too; he in a colorful shirt and she in a poodle skirt.