0718 Appleseed Festival has fun baked right in

  • By Robin Hauenstein
  • July 13, 2011
  • 287
                        
Summary: The annual Johnny Appleseed Festival not only celebrates the heritage of the Apple Creek community, it also provides entertainment for everyone, as well as food, games, music and a parade. Summertime in America is filled with village celebrations, homecomings, reunions, parades and queen pageants. What started as a village centennial celebration nearly 60 years ago, has since morphed into the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Apple Creek. For more than 40 years, the festival has featured all of those activities and more for the greater Apple Creek community. July 22 and 23, the village will come alive with two days of food, fun, parades, pageants, reunions and more. The Apple Creek Historical Society now runs the Johnny Appleseed Festival. The first event was held for two days in August, 1955. The original festival was a celebration of the village’s centennial, and a celebration of the towns of Edinburg and Apple Creek Station. The first festival featured old-fashioned American games, including a dog and hog calling contest, greased pig contest, as well as competitions for the longest beard, best pies and bonnets, and lots of music. Ten years later, the Apple Creek Civic Improvement Community held a two-day affair in late July, 1965. That first Johnny Appleseed Festival saw the dedication of the new village hall. Named Mayer Carson Hall, it honored two long-time residents, Dr. N. C. Mayer and pharmacist Jeff Carson. Both began practice in the village in 1919. For the past four years the festival has been run by the historical society. Led by president Gary Rogers, the society tries to recapture the old-fashioned feel of a small-town festival. Shirley Purduw, the festival’s public relations spokesperson, said the festival also draws in many alumni from Waynedale High School, usually with class reunions held that weekend. "There’s always something going on," Purduw said. "People come for the music…it’s a good community thing." The festival theme this year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. A resident will receive the honored citizen award on July 23, and the senior queen will be crowned the evening of July 22. Purduw encouraged anyone who wanted to enter the grand parade on Saturday, July 23, to register at the Apple Creek Fire Department. The parade begins at 4 p.m. There is no charge to enter the parade. As usual, many local businesses and organizations will have special booths, games, including bingo, and foods. Both nights, most festival events will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. The popular chicken barbecue begins at 5 p.m. each evening, and continues until sold out. Marty’s Best Chicken will provide the barbecue. Friday, July 22, events include: At 5 p.m., will be the flag raising by Boy Scout Troop 69. Kristina Currans will sing the National Anthem, then at 6:30 p.m., senior festival queen will be recognized, followed by music from the Fairlawn Praise Band, Marcus Ladrack and the Bagby Boys will round out the evening’s entertainment. Saturday, July 23, events include: Parade entries must be lined up by 3 p.m. at the Apple Creek Fire Department. The parade begins at 4 p.m., at Dale James Ford, and will continue through town. Following the parade, traditional firefighter games, including the water barrel fights, will be held. Music for the evening is provided by Chain Reaction and the Gary Brown Group. At 5 p.m., Ellie Shoup will sing the National Anthem during the flag raising ceremony. Also at 5 p.m., entries for the apple pie and bread baking contests must be received at Mayer Carson Hall, with winners announced at 6 p.m. An auction of the pies and breads will follow, as will a pie eating contest. Then, at 7 p.m. the honored citizen(s) will be recognized, and at 7:15 p.m., Gerald Payn, as Abe Lincoln, will speak.


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