Apples in the forefront at festival
Johnny Appleseed would feel right at home in Hickory this weekend. For the 30th year, Mt. Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Company will host the Hickory Apple Festival Saturday and Sunday, and there will be no shortage of tasty, pomaceous creations.
“We have apples, apple pie, apple dumplings and this year, we’ve added some apple tarts,” said Gary Farner, chairman of the event.
That’s not to mention the jars of apple butter and cups of apple cider, served hot or chilled. About 60 members of the community starting baking apple pies more than two weeks ago, which are kept frozen until the start of the festival. By Saturday, there will be 2,000 pies ready for consumption or, for the competitive, an apple pie-eating contest.
“It’s a recipe that we’ve always used,” Farner said of the apple pie, which is a staple at the festival for decades.
For those who crave a fruit-free dish, vendors also will be selling baked bread, homemade bean soup, roasted chicken, kielbasa sandwiches and pierogies, to name a few. A pancake breakfast will be served both Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the dining room of the fire hall.
The festival also will feature a variety of crafts, including wood burning and carving, rug making, basket weaving and pottery spinning.
“A lot of people come for the crafts,” Farner said. “We’ll have probably 80 crafters.”
For children, there will be an apple-bobbing contest, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting and moon bounce.
The Stickers will be the main entertainment act Saturday, and The Holidays will take the stage Sunday, both beginning at 4 p.m.
The festival will be held on the fire hall grounds at 106 Main St. General admission and parking are free, and a free shuttle service will run from off-site parking lots.