It took a little convincing, but 10-year-old Aidan LeClair milked an actual cow Saturday afternoon.
"It felt weird. And warm," Aidan explained.
He was one of dozens of people who took a crack at milking a cow during the annual Parson Family Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treating event.
As far as Halloween events go, the Missouri Governor's Mansion might have been the hot spot for trick-or-treaters to visit this weekend.
First lady Teresa Parson and Gov. Mike Parson hosted the event for the fifth year.
Held outside, the event featured dozens of vendors and activities and live bluegrass music.
In addition to cow-milking and trick-or-treating, activities included a bounce house, face painting and people-watching.
Among other vendors were Missouri Grown, which gave away apples raised in Fulton; Elderwood Kettle Corn; Missouri State Parks; Runge Nature Center; Missouri State Highway Patrol; Scholastic, Inc.; and many more.
Friends of the Governor's Mansion gave each person who entered the grounds -- and there were thousands -- a miniature pumpkin.
Docents, who were dressed as ... 19th century docents, fit right in with the crowd.
Sally Graham and Bobbie Herman glided across the mansion lawn and greeted new guests.
"We are usually inside people," Graham said. "My husband said, 'All you need is a witch hat and you'll look like a witch."
Herman said Missouri was blessed with a lovely day Saturday. And, she added, the flowers outside the mansion are gorgeous.
Anderson Naught, 8, strolled into the Governor's Garden early in the afternoon, wearing a familiar orange jumpsuit and rebel helmet.
"You should see my dad's costume," Naught said. "It's just like this. We were all Star Wars characters."
He went to school Friday dressed as the Mandalorian, Anderson said. His dad bought him a Mandalorian helmet that lights up.
Several other Star Wars characters were sprinkled among the hoard that passed through the mansion gates Saturday. But, there were also hosts of ninjas, princesses and superheroes.
Several dinosaurs roamed the grounds.
Levi Woods, 9, and his siblings walked among the crowd. Levi -- in a large, inflatable dinosaur outfit, and his brother, William, also wearing an inflatable costume, a minion -- required room to move through.
"I just wanted to be (a dinosaur)," Levi said.
Dressed in jeans, a work shirt and a vest, Gov. Mike Parson leaned against a brick wall and watched as teams of staff members prepared for hundreds of families to enter the grounds.
"The first lady always sets a great example here," he said. "This year is a special treat. We did a lot more. The mansion staff has really dug in and did a lot more with costume characters."
The grounds, he said include an inflatable "Monster Garden."
"We got cows out here," he said. "We got rabbits out here. We got pumpkins out here. Any time you get a lot of kids around here, it's always a good day.
"It's pretty good to come out here and be a little relaxed. And people see you in that arena -- maybe, instead of a suit and tie -- I think it's always important. A lot of kids come through here this time of year, and that's what it's all about. We like having them be a part of this mansion."
Avery Mejia gets a spider painted on her face Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022,at the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Governor Mike Parson talks to guests at the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Hayrides were one of the many events for the public at the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Kylie Stegeman plays in the bubbles at the Carnahan Memorial Gardens during the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Kids could try their hand at milking a cow in the Carnahan Memorial Gardens during the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Volunteers for the Runge Nature Center educate visitors on Missouri bears at the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Many activies and vendors entertained vistors in the Carnahan Memorial Gardens during the Governor's Mansion Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Thousands filed into the grounds of the Governor's Mansion Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, for their Fall Festival and Trick-Or-Treating. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
The Governor's Mansion was decked out with Fall and Halloween decorations Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, for their Fall Festival. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)