By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Oak trees had the main billing at Saturday’s Oaktober event on the Jesup Green, but human saplings were also drawn to the pumpkins.

The event, sponsored by the Westport Book Shop, the town’s Tree Board and Earthplace, offered information tents, free white oak saplings, and activities such as pumpkin decorating.

Members of the Westport Tree Board had 50 white oak saplings to hand out for free, courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts.

The Westport Book Shop had a tent and tables where youngsters decorated pumpkins with paint and glitter. Or, just got a plain one to bring home. Earthplace also had an informational tent, and some visiting animals. There were treats and other goodies for kids.

Another Oaktober event is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane. It’s a discussion about New York Times bestselling author Douglas W. Tallamy’s new book “The Nature of Oaks.”

It’s sponsored by Earthplace and the Tree Board.

“With ‘Bringing Nature Home,’ Doug Tallamy changed the conversation about gardening in America. His second book, the New York Times bestseller ‘Nature’s Best Hope,’ urged homeowners to take conservation into their own hands,” Earthplace’s announcement reads. “Now, he turns his advocacy to one of the most important species of the plant kingdom — the mighty oak tree.

“Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife,” the event announcement continues. “The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.”