Autumn Treat
MARS — Soap, sausages, salsa and squash — plus apple dumplings, of course — were among the items sold at 150 booths at the 2017 Mars Applefest, which was staged under a bright, sunny sky Saturday.
The largest Applefest on record saw booths stretching from the old fire hall on Irvine Street all the way to the end of Grand Avenue just past the Mars Public Library.
The summerlike temperatures brought out residents and visitors of all ages, who strolled down the middle of two closed streets to peruse all the vendors had to offer.
Pittsburgh Street hosted many of the food vendors, where everything from dumplings to chicken on a stick were available to hungry festivalgoers.
Grand Avenue boasted booths offering jewelry, IQ tests, honey, chrysanthemums and everything in between.
Mars Applefest, organized by the Mars Rotary Club, ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Mara Fuller, a sophomore at Mars High School, and her friends from the school's Key Club shooed curious bees away from the bright yellow mums they sold for fall planting.
Students in Key Club serve each year as attendants for the Mars Kiwanis Club booth, where the proceeds from the booth's sale of flowers and popcorn will benefit the victims of the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida.
“I volunteered because I wanted to help with hurricane relief,” said Mara.
She said the potted fall flowers sold well.
“Everyone has been really nice,” said Mara, who has attended multiple Applefests over the years. “It's good to bring everyone together, and businesses can display their products.”
John Watson, a Mars Kiwanis member since 1992, said the Mars club will be closing due to lack of membership.
The Mars Kiwanis Club has been in continuous existence in Mars since 1938, and had about 30 members when Watson joined.
“We think it's a good time to close up,” Watson said. “Hopefully, the Key Club will continue the Applefest booth.”
Watson said he hopes Applefest continues to be popular in the small borough with the otherworldly name.
“It brings the different generations together,” Watson said of Applefest, “and I see more people I know at Applefest than I see all year.”
Jacob Noe, a fourth-grader at Mars Elementary School, spent two hours working his booth, Cub Scout Pack 413, handing out information cards regarding Cub Scouts and accepting donations to buy popcorn for deployed military personnel.
“People are being nice,” Jacob said of those he had encountered Saturday morning.
He also appreciates Applefest because families can attend and have fun together.“I think it's nice because it's a nice day out today, and a lot of people are going around to the stands buying stuff and deciding what to do,” he said.About 100 parents and children milled around in the kid's area behind Woodland Valley Church, where bounce houses, games and activities entertained the festival's youngest revelers.A farmers' market with fresh produce, pies, salsa and other fare was a popular feature in the church's parking lot.Various entertainers took the stage at the park in the town square to the delight of the audience and passers-by looking for a tasty treat on Pittsburgh Street.Kimberly Tupper of Allison Park and seven of her female relatives attended the Applefest to have an uplifting experience together.“My mother died and we were trying to find something fun to do,” Tupper said.Honeycrisp apples, jewelry, pickles, cider and various sweet treats were some of the items picked up by the group.“It's much larger than we anticipated,” Tupper said of Applefest. “We love it and we can't wait to come back next year.”Irene Fox of Valencia has attended Applefest several times.“I think this is the most crowded I've ever seen it,” said Fox.She also feels Applefest is important for Mars.“It's great for local people,” Fox said. “It's a nice gathering. You see your neighbors and other people you run into.”Fox said she also looks forward to the variety of edible treats that she doesn't normally get.“I buy a lot of goodies,” she said.
