Mars Applefest returns for 41st year
The vendors at Mars Applefest are the lifeblood of the festival, and after starting with just a few vendors 41 years ago, the event has now expanded to 205.
The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, along Grand Avenue and Pittsburgh Street.
“Having a greater vendor presence is exciting, but even more important is recognizing the continued dedication of the Rich-Mar Rotary Club, whose efforts make this a truly special and successful community event,” Harry Austin, community and media coordinator for Mars Applefest, said. “As history shows, Rich-Mar Rotarians have supported the festival for 16 of its 41 years.”
Austin also discussed the growth in vendors from last year to this year. Last year, the festival welcomed 148 vendors, while this year that number has grown by 38%. Of those, 112 vendors are returning from last year.
Mars Applefest dates back to the early 1980s, when the owners of Treesdale Farms in Mars had more apples than they could sell and turned to the Mars Chamber of Commerce to donate them.
After the apples were donated, they were placed at the corner of Pittsburgh Street and Grand Avenue, where Mars residents could take apples as they wished. After the effort’s success, organizers saw an opportunity to expand it, and in 1984, five local businesses came together to turn the idea into a community tradition.
Once the tradition began, organizers decided they didn’t want to stop at apples. They added apple cider, apple pie, apple turnovers and apple dumplings to the event. In 1985, Jim Lasher, president of the Mars Business Association, launched Mars Applefest, which soon grew into a community event featuring vendors and support from businesses throughout the town.
For 18 years, Lasher continued to work with Applefest to help it grow and stayed on for an additional four years until Gail Carpenter stepped in from 2003 to 2008, during which time the festival saw significant growth.
According to Austin, those who attend this year’s festival will see some new additions that will be interactive while also showcasing some history.
The first of these new events will feature the Butler County SWAT team, which will be on-site with its tactical vehicle and offer demonstrations of its capabilities. Two antique vehicles will also be on display, a 1924 Ford Model T and a 1930 Ford Model, both owned by Mars residents.
Along with the new events, the festival will offer plenty of family fun, including Advance Community Church’s wonderland of inflatable slides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Masonic Lodge Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon and NexTier Bank Challenges, which will feature a variety of games for kids.
There will also be a farmers market, a library book sale, train rides, face painting, a dunk tank, Adams Area Fire District vehicles and a visit from Orby, the mascot from Planet Mart.
The festival and the town of Mars also pride themselves on having their own flying saucer, which is a little piece of Americana, much beloved by the community and a popular spot during the festivities.
“Come out and wander Pittsburgh Street and Grand Avenue in Mars, taking in Amish doughnuts, homemade apple dumplings, classic fair foods and that one special gift you didn’t know you were looking for,” Austin added.
The popularity of the festival cannot be understated. According to the website, more than 9,000 people attended last year, with visitors coming from near and far.
“Friday night lights at a high school football game, naturally. Sunday football if you’re a proud Steelers fan,” Austin said, “and right in between, the perfect Saturday: Spending time with family or close friends at a community celebration unlike any other — one where you join 9,000-10,000 fellow Martians.”
