Little changes from year to year at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival, except the weather.

In other words, this year's 59th annual festival includes classic oxen pull and woodsman events, the returning Granite State Cloggers, midway rides and loads of local craft vendors and farm stands.

It also (thankfully) means that last year's deluge, which washed away tents, caused cancellation of the Sunday parade and kept turnout low, has given way to ideal fall weather: blue skies, brilliant foliage and perfect cider-drinking temperatures.

"People like the festival just the way it is, and the nice weather just adds to it," said Pam Trostorff, a member of the festival board of directors.

Parking lots around Warner were nearly full by 10:30 a.m. Visitors and vendors alike were glad to see the sunny skies yesterday.

This is the 23rd year that Floy Smith has set up a booth in the town hall selling her hand-knit children's sweaters, detailed with ladybug buttons or puffy white sheep around the bottom. She's originally from George's Mills but lives in Keene now. She said she keeps coming back because she has regular customers. Yesterday, one girl asked her to remake a favorite sweater Smith made years ago in a larger size.

Last year, Smith couldn't get from her home to the festival for Sunday's events because the roads around Keene were washed out by flooding. She sent her niece from Sutton up with a load of sweaters.

"It was real beautiful coming in today," she said.

Although proceeds from the festival, which are divvied up among various town organizations, were down last year, the festival still wound up with $9,000 to hand out, compared to average results in the teens and up. Some of that money would otherwise have been given out to prize winners at the oxen events, which were cancelled because of mud, and at the parade, which was cancelled because the police who oversee it were called out for flood assistance.

"This year could be a better year, who knows," said board co-chair Ray Martin. "It's starting out that way."

Yesterday the bleachers alongside the oxen ring were full most of the morning. Selectman and organizer Dave Hartman said the forecast is promising a great grand parade, which starts today at 1 p.m.

"It'll be packed," he said.

Traditional events, including a country breakfast at the United Church of Warner kick off at 7 a.m. Volunteers will start cooking for the lobster and chicken dinner around 8 a.m. The dinner starts at 11:30 a.m. Cooks were planning to serve up to 200 lobsters and 350 chicken halves yesterday. The meals are a steal at $12 for lobster and $10 for chicken.

Also on the agenda are performances by Stitch, a one-man comedy performer, the East Bay Jazz Ensemble and a woodman's competition. One new event on the roster is a display of the touring taxidermy exhibit "Forever Locked" of two male moose who died when their antlers locked in a battle.

(For a full schedule log on to wfff.org.)

By CHELSEA CONABOY

Monitor staff