Mars Applefest will be bigger, better
MARS — Mars Applefest organizers hope to make this year bigger and better than last year with old favorites and a newly expanded bake contest.
The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Mars. Pittsburgh Street and Grand Avenue will be shut down to allow for 150 vendors to set up and sell food, crafts and other wares.
Last year was the biggest and best year for Mars Applefest in terms of drawing a crowd, thanks to the good weather.
Richard Mangel, chairman of the Mars Applefest committee, said he could hardly walk up and down the streets because there were so many people.
“I think (small-town festivals) are important because it helps the economy for that town, and we need to bring businesses back into small-town America,” Mangel said.
Applefest has been a fall fixture in Mars for at least 25 years, Mangel said. It started with the now non-existent Mars Chamber of Commerce trying to get people into town. Rotary took over and has been running the show for the past nine years.
“It's to highlight the town of Mars and its businesses,” Mangel said.
A stage at the center of town will have live entertainment every hour on the hour throughout the day.
The entertainment starts with the Davey Whitmire Band, followed by the Greater Harmony Chorus, Dizzy Whoosh and the Mars Jump Rope Team. The day will close out with the Family Gospel group from 3 to 4 p.m.
The apple-themed bake contest went so well in its first iteration last year that the competition has been expanded this year to include four categories: pies and turnovers, breads and muffins, cakes as well as cookies. The contest will be judged at 11:30 a.m.
One of the big draws of Applefest are the apple dumplings.
Mangel said there are different vendors and groups selling apple dumplings and they're always a big hit.Last year one church made 500 apple dumplings only to sell out by the afternoon.“The biggest complaint last year was that people couldn't find apple dumplings in the afternoon,” Mangel said.This year that shouldn't be a problem. Mangel said they made sure they have more groups making more apple dumplings than last year to ensure most everyone gets their fill.Vendors include churches, community groups, businesses and crafters. Mangel said they've been sold out of vendor spaces since September and even added some more spaces this year to accommodate more people.On top of the vendors spread out through town, the majority of Mars businesses stay open through the day to welcome people in, which is the goal of the event.“It brings business in,” Mangel said. “That's what it's all about.”
