Mars Applefest is returning for its 40th year on Saturday, Oct. 4, and its organizers once again expect to bring up to 10,000 people to the borough, pending cooperative weather.

Applefest is one of many annual events that takes place in Mars — which is only half a square mile in area — that brings thousands of people to the streets. The borough is also home to Mars New Year, a Fourth of July celebration, a light-up night and a maker’s market, which have each taken place for at least several years.

It’s impressive to see a borough with a population of about 1,500 people not only put on so many events year after year, but manage to bring in a number of people that dwarfs its actual population. The consistent draw of these events supports the fact their organizers aren’t focused on quantity over quality. The events are also put together by the borough or by people or groups local to the borough, like the Rich-Mar Rotary Club.

The frequency of events for such a small town could point to Mars just being the perfect place for a shindig. These events all take place on and around Grand Avenue, where there is not a ton of vehicle traffic or residential housing, and the businesses that populate the street and the borough also usually get in on the action.

Finally, Mars has a signature attraction in its UFO, which frequently draws people into town to get their picture taken with it. The statue helped put Mars on the map and may be something that keeps attracting new people to the borough.

Applefest will bring a bunch of activities to Mars once again: face painting, children’s activities, a visit from the Fightin’ Planet, a book sale and tons of food, much of which use apples as an ingredient.

While other Butler County municipalities and the city of Butler organize events and street fairs regularly, it’s impressive that a small one like Mars has so many consistently, and so many that draw a crowd.

— ET