Applefest Wraps Up Today with Antique, Classic Car Cruise, Live Entertainment, Food Specials, and More

| October 7, 2018

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – The 36th Annual Applefest ends today in downtown Franklin.

(Photo by Greg Knox of Bright Ideas Learning Center & Photography.)

More than 300 craft and food vendors, as well as live entertainment, are highlighting the three-day celebration that ends on Sunday, October 7.

The Applefest event began as a pie-eating contest in 1982 and has grown to one of rural Pennsylvania’s biggest events. But, its true roots were found in the fabled folk hero John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman, who lived in the Franklin area from 1797 to 1804. Chapman planted apple trees throughout the area and across the Midwest.

According to its website, franklinapplefest.com, more than 30 years ago, a newcomer to the Franklin area, Mrs. Lee Chapman, no relation to John Chapman, was impressed with the abundance of red apples that grew in the Franklin area and visited the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce office expressing “enchantment” with the area.

Coming from an arid region of South Africa, Chapman was especially impressed and thought the apples should be celebrated and would make a fabulous basis for an event that could help improve the spirits and instill some old-fashioned community pride in the residents who had been hard hit by an economic downturn.

Combining Mrs. Chapman’s suggestion with the area’s historical link to the fabled folk hero Johnny Appleseed, the idea for Applefest was born.

Here is a look at today’s events:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

Arts/Crafts/Entertainment 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Franklin Elks Breakfast– 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Elks Lodge located 13th & Buffalo. Open to the public. $10 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets available at the door. Benefits the Elks Home Service Nurses’ Program. For more info, call 814-432-8119.

Antique and Classic Car Cruise – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Liberty and 12th Streets. Sponsored by First United National Bank

Venango Regional Airport Fly-In – Complimentary breakfast & shuttle service for fly-in visitors to Applefest

In-Store Antique Estate Jewelry Sale – Estate & jewelry sale at Feldman Jewelers, 1260 Liberty St., Oct. 7-9. For more info, call (814)432-5925 or (800)748-1895

Uncharted Course – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Food Court

Max Schang – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Bandstand Park

Farmer’s Market – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 12th Street

DeBence Antique Music World Tours – Guided tours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1261 Liberty Street

Church Tour – Franklin Preservation – The church is located at 11th and Buffalo Street (across from the playground) Tours will be at 1 p.m.

Tiffany Window Tours – St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1145 Buffalo St., 2 p.m.

Samatha Sears – 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Food Court

Johnny Appleseed – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to say hello to Johnny Appleseed as he strolls through Applefest

Duck Race – 2 p.m. – Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania Duck Race in the fountain at Fountain Park. Prizes awarded – call 437-3071

Victorian Residential Architecture Walking Tours – 1 p.m., Meet at 12th & Elk Streets Sponsored and led by Franklin Rotary Club

Jada Vance, American Idol 2013 Contestant – 1 p.m to 4 p.m. in the Bandstand. Sponsored by Grand Sponsor – Clarion County Community Bank

Joe Liotta – 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Food Court

Wild Will Ion – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Food Court

ONGOING EVENTS

Franklin Public Library Used Book Sale – 421 Twelfth St. – 10/7- 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Gigantic Book Fair – Venango County Historical Society – Giant Book Fair; used books of all types. 307 S. Park Street – Oct. 7 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Historical House Open House – $5.00

Farmer’s Market – 12th Street – Oct. 7- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Venango Regional Airport Fly-In – Oct. 7 – Complimentary breakfast and shuttle service for fly-in visitors coming to Applefest

Johnny Appleseed will be strolling through the festival on Oct. 7 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to say hello.

In-store Antique Estate Jewelry Sale – Estate & jewelry sale at Feldman Jewelers, 1260 Liberty St., Oct. 7. For more info, call 814-432-5925 or 800-748-1895

Hospitality Center – The Hospitality Ministry of First Presbyterian Church offers restrooms, diaper changing station, free water, a place to eat and relax. Offering self-guided stained glass window tours & quiet meditation in the sanctuary. Located at the corner of West Park and Elk Streets across from Fountain Park. Ongoing hospitality during the days and hours of Applefest. Sponsored by First Presbyterian Church

Face Painting – HOLeY Jeans will be face painting for donations at the West Park Street Gazebo from 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 7

For more information, directions, and planning a stay, see its webpage at franklinapplefest.com.

View Applefest’s schedule of events here.

Sponsors

Golden Sponsors

Clarion County Community Bank
Edward Jones
The City of Franklin, Pa.
PNC
Forever Media
UPMC Health Plan

Major Sponsors

Barber’s Orchard
Caldwell Printing Services
Clarion University, Venango
Community Ambulance Service
First National Bank
Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development Authority
FrenchCreek Production
Gibbons Business Solutions
Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home and Cremation Services
IPEG
Jones Party Magic
King’s Landscaping
Komatsu Mining Corp.
Lepley Bus Service
Liberty Electronics, Inc.
Lowry Auto Body
Prime Fitness
Professional Audio Services
Quality Inn & Conference Center
Shaw Industries
Specialty Fabrication and Powder Coating
UPMC Northwest
Venango Steel, Inc.
Welding Technologies

Sponsors

Checker Safety Group
Cranberry Township
Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm
Farmers National Bank of Emlenton
First United National Bank
Franklin Animal Clinic
Franklin Bronze Precision Components
Franklin Elks #110
Franklin Giant Eagle
Franklin Oil Region Credit Union
Friedhaber’s
Gilmore Audiology
Hartle Dental, LLC
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Honeywell Safety Products
Industrial Truck and Crane, Inc.
Northwest
Stephen Cenedella, MD
Stifel
The Caring Place
Timothy E. Hartle Funeral Home
WM R. Karns Plumbing & HVAC Inc.

Patrons

Atlantic Avenue United Brethren Church
Buffalo Street Lanes
Callaghan’s Pharmacy
First Presbyterian Church – Franklin
FoxTales Pub
Franklin & Titusville Insurance Agencies
Franklin Bronze Plaques
Franklin Gardeners Association
Franklin Masonic Lodge
Franklin Retail & Business Association
Galaxy Federal Credit Union
Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc.
Heath Oil, Inc.
Helen S. Cummings
Holtz Riverview Massage
Jones Hardwoods, Inc.
Kelly’s Pools and Spas
Kirtland Cancer Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Franklin
Lake Tool, Inc.
M&D Paving
McCoy Equipment Sales
McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP
Michael Dill, Agent State Farm Insurance
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Oil Region Alliance
Paoletta Counselling Services
Rotary Club of Franklin
Sandy K. Hovis Insurance Agency, Inc.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
State Senator Scott Hutchinson
Teresa Russell
Venango County Historical Society
Barrow-Civic Theatre
Butler Health System
Central Electric Cooperative
City of Franklin
Cranberry Pennzoil
Crosby’s
Eric A. Padin, Attorney at Law
Family Service & Children’s Aid Society
Feldman Jewelers
Franklin Elks #110
Heath Oil, Inc.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
Myers Custom Woodworks
Overhead Door
Prime Fitness
Quality Inn & Conference Center
Spanky’s Tobacco World
Specialty Fabrication and Powder Coating
VFW Jesse G. Greer Post 1835
Voyten Electric and Electronics
Beith Associates
Housing Authority, City of Franklin
The Witherup House


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