Annual Apple Festival on tap October 11

Tayamentasachta — A Center for Environmental Studies will offer a special attraction with apples as the star.

The 25th annual Greencastle- Antrim Apple Festival and Antique Engine Display are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, with day-long activities and a chicken barbecue.

The festival will include everything with apples from foods and crafts to displays and demonstrations. A special exhibit of antique engines and farm equipment, by the C.V. Antique Engine and Machinery Association will be featured, including early 1900's, Walk Grain Cradle, Barn Making Tools and numerous antique tractors and engines.

The Environmental Education Advisory Committee is sponsoring an apple pie and apple recipe baking contest. In the past the contest was limited to Greencastle- Antrim residents, however it is now open to anyone. An auction of the delicious baked items will be held at noon.

For more information about the baking contest contact Sue Miller at 597-9196.

There will be special activities for children presented by Greencastle Antrim students and the high school art club, which will include: face painting, apple name tags, make an apple book mark, taste different varieties of apples and make-your-own scare crow.

Local crafts people will demonstrate traditional crafts.

Environmental displays will be set up by local government agencies. Battery B 1st Maryland Cavalry, Battalion CSA Cavalry will demonstrate camp lives of a Civil War unit.

Over 1,000 apple dumplings are being prepared by the Environmental Center Advisory Committee that will be for sale.

Tracey's Orchard, Greencastle will have displays of different varieties of apples and their uses and will be on hand to answer your questions about apples.

Mussleman's and Knouse Foods, Inc. will have displays of products produced from apples.

Charles Lindsay will be giving hay rides pulled by his teams of Belgian horses.

The county dairy princess and honey queen will be there with displays and to answer questions about their commodities.

Roy Justice, a time traveling minstrel, will entertain with stories, music and songs of an historic nature.

Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. a benefit chicken barbecue will be conducted. Proceeds will benefit new programs offered to the community by the Environmental Center. Each $6 advanced, $7 at the door ticket entitles the bearer to 1/2 barbecued chicken, cabbage slaw, baked potato, applesauce, roll, cake and apple cider. Tickets for the barbecue are available at all Greencastle-Antrim schools or by calling 597-6458.

For early risers breakfast will be available from 6:30 to 10 a.m. cooked and served by Shady Grove Cub Pack 95.

The festival is designed to educate the community about apples and the importance of our environment to our everyday life.

There is no admission fee.

The event is open to everyone, not just the residents of the Greencastle Antrim School District. The barbecue and festival will be held rain or shine.

Tracey's Orchards donates apples for the children's activities.

Growing Native, a signature program of the Potomac Watershed Partnership, will host a native seed and nut gathering event. From 11 a.m. to noon a Growing Native Ambassador will lead a presentation of the importance of gathering native hardwood seeds. Participants will be able to gather native seeds at Tayamentasachta to help replenish native hardwoods to the Potomac Watershed Basin.

Organizations assisting with the festival are: Environmental Education Advisory Committee, C.V. Antique Engine and Machinery Association, Greencastle- Antrim Women's Club, Boy Scouts of America, Franklin County Farm-City Week Committee, Tracey's Orchard, Shady Grove Ruritan, The Leo's Club, High School Art Club, Franklin County Extension Office, Franklin County Planning, 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club and Dairy Club, Franklin County Rock and Mineral Club, The Blue Bird Society, Battery B 1st Maryland Cavalry, Growing Native, Franklin County Bee Keepers, Franklin County Conservation District and Waste Management.