Saturday will be all about apples at Tayamentasachta

With the 27th annual Greencastle-Antrim Apple Festival and Antique Engine Display quickly approaching this Saturday, Oct. 9, Kari Barnes is a busy person making last minute preparations at the Tayamentasachta Environmental Center location of the popular event.

This is Barnes’ first experience with the apple festival as the director of the center. Longtime director Charles White retired over the summer. So Barnes is getting her feet wet arranging and preparing for the festival, hoping to continue the tradition to make this another memorable event.

 “The apple dumplings for sure,” Barnes said in response to the question of why people come to the festival, “but also the family activities like the wagon ride, scarecrow making, the chicken barbecue and the craft demonstrations by the community.”

The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include anything dealing with apples from foods and crafts to displays and demonstrations. There is no admission fee. The event is open to everyone, not just the residents of the Greencastle-Antrim School District.

Why apples?

“Because it’s just that time of the year,” said Barnes.

The apple festival wouldn’t be the same without their iconic food item, the apple dumplings. Over 1,000 of the delectable treats will be prepared by the Environmental Center Advisory Committee for purchase. With the dough being made by the students in the middle school food and consumer science classesand apples coming in by the wheelbarrow full, they certainly are prepared for the demand.

Barnes related, “They (the apple dumplings) are simply out of this world.”

The festival, sponsored by the Environmental Education Advisory Committee, is designed to educate the community about apples and the importance of our environment to the everyday life. 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.

The menu will extend beyond apples. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. a  benefit chicken barbecue will be conducted. Each ticket entitles the bearer to half barbecued chicken, cabbage slaw, baked potato, applesauce, roll, cake and apple cider. Tickets at $6 in advanced and $7 at the door 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.

There will be special activities for children presented by Greencastle-Antrim students and the high school art club, which will include face painting, the making of apple name tags and an apple book mark, tasting of different varieties of apples and making a scare crow. Tracey's Orchard is donating apples for the children activities.

Local crafts people will demonstrate traditional crafts.

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

A special exhibit of antique engines and farm equipment, by the C.V. Antique Engine and Machinery Association will be featured, including early 1900s Walk Grain Cradle, barn-making tools and numerous antique tractors and engines.

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

Growing Native, a signature program of the Potomac Watershed Partnership, will be present  to host a native seed and nut gathering event to help replenish native hardwoods to the Potomac Watershed basin.

The festival itself isn’t just for fun though.

“The proceeds will go to the environmental education programs here at Tayamentasachta,” said Barnes.

The barbecue and festival will be held rain or shine.

Organizations assisting with the festival include: Greencastle-Antrim Women's Club, Shady Grove Ruritan, The Leo's Club, Franklin County Extension Office, Franklin County Planning, 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club, Franklin County Rock and Mineral Club, The Blue Bird Society Apple Valley Painters, Battery B 1st Maryland Cavalry, Franklin County Bee Keepers, Franklin County Conservation District and Franklin County Dairy Promotion.