Fall time brings festival Season

(9/29) With summer finally coming to an end, the shorter, cooler days that autumn brings can now commence. Just as summer time brings the carnival season, autumn brings the season of fall festivals. In Adams County, there are many festivals that occur during the fall months. Pippinfest occurred at the end of last month and even though the bridge repair over Muddy Run Creek incited a less direct detour into town, crowds still managed to make to out to the event.

Pippinfest including yard sales in and around Main Street, as well as a wide variety of craft and food vendors from all over the region. Sunday, the big day at Pippinfest offered entertainment including local musicians. Children’s activities were offered and numerous food and craft vendors lined the street. There was even a "Cruise-In Car Show and Swap Meet" which displayed antique autos, hot rods, vintage race and muscle cars, street rods, motorcycles and trucks.

Another much anticipated fall festival is Camp Eder’s 38th Annual Fall Festival, which will be taking place on October 15. Camp Eder’s Fall Festival is a Harvest & Heritage celebration designed for the whole family. Children can enjoy the petting zoo, crafts, games and a bounce house. For the parents, a live auction will occur at 9:30 a.m. and live music will continue all day. Craft vendors will be present and demonstrations including a glass blowing demonstration and apple butter making are also featured, as well as many other pioneer-style demonstrations are also featured this year. An authentic Pit-Roasted Pork and turkey lunch is offered as the highlight of the day and will leave folks sharing memories for months and years to follow. For more information on the Fall Festival, visit www.campeder.org.

If you’re busy the weekend of the 15th, but are free either of the first weekends in October, then surely you should make a visit to the South Mountain Fairgrounds for the 52nd National Apple Harvest Festival; because what says autumn better than an apple festival? This year, the Apple Harvest is taking place on October 1 and 2, as well as the following weekend October 8 and 9.

The Apple Harvest Festival offers something for everyone! There will be over 300 Arts and Crafts vendors, antique and classic cars, antique farm equipment, antique gas engines, a gallery with apple memorabilia, souvenirs, a photo contest, pony rides, puppet shows, apple art, Scarecrows R Us, Kid Country Barn, a petting zoo, and strolling characters.

Of course, various demonstrations will be occurring both weekends. These include: apple butter, apple sauce and apple syrup making, chainsaw carving, Van Wagner’s Tall Timber Lumber Heritage, Native American Dancers, and an antique working shingle mill powered by an antique steam engine, among others.

The Festival isn’t called the Apple Harvest festival for nothing - apples are the shining stars of this Fall fest. There’s mouth-watering apple pie, of course, among other apple desserts. Prepare the taste buds for fresh Adams County apples, candied and caramel apples, apple cider slushies, warm apple sauce, hot apple butter, and apple ice cream. Apart from tasty apple treats, the festival also offers an array of other delicious foods including finger-lickin’ BBQ chicken, open pit beef or pulled pork or ribeye steak sandwiches, kettle or caramel corn, funnel cakes and fresh dipped ice cream. For additional information, visit www.appleharvest.com or call 717-677-9413.