Wellsburg Applefest to return with new events

WELLSBURG -- The Wellsburg Applefest will return on Oct. 6-8 for its 44th year, and one reason for its longevity is that it has included a mix of new and familiar features, said Ernie Jack, who co-chairs its volunteer committee with Frank Johnson.

Jack said in addition to many vendors selling a wide assortment of food and merchandise along Charles Street, this year's festival will include a classic car show in the grassy lot at Ninth Street and a couple of new contests.

Sponsored by Team Ford Wellsburg, the car show will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and include music by disc jockey Frank Allen.

Car owners are asked to arrive at 2:30 p.m., and dash plaques will go to the first 50 entries.

The new contests include a hot dog eating contest at 2 p.m. on Oct. 8, followed by a Ken and Barbie lookalike contest at 3 p.m.

Jack said there will be several age divisions for the latter contest, from children to senior citizens, and participants will compete for cash prizes.

He noted the festival again will include a pumpkin carving contest, at 2 p.m. Oct. 7, with parents and other adults assisting children in creating jack-o-lanterns using safety knives; and a pumpkin decorating contest.

The latter event is held in cooperation with the Brooke County Public Library, with the Applefest Committee supplying pumpkins distributed by the library prior to the festival and judging held at 1 p.m. Oct. 7 on the square.

Jack added Rachel and Jim Mounts, the antique collectors who own Two Antique Geeks in Follansbee, will be on hand from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7. The two aren't antique appraisers but are happy to share their knowledge of a variety of collectibles and curios.

He noted youth have played a big part in the Applefest through the years and have included, many others, winners of various ages of the Wellsburg Applefest Pageant, which is coordinated by Shirlie Rogers.

Winners of this year's pageant will be crowned by Miss West Virginia at noon Oct. 7.

Jack said in recent years youth 15 and under have been invited to operate their own booths on the square, at no cost, on the second day of the festival.

He said space for up to 20 booths will be available for them on Oct. 7, and the children and teens should arrive at 8 a.m. that day. Parents or other adults may assist with setting up but should leave afterword so the youth may gain experience running the booths on their own.

"I call it the Children's Applefest," said Jack.

The Wellsburg Applefest Committee also operates an information booth on the square and will be selling apple pies and cider.

In addition to amusement and miniature train rides, face painting and an children's art table manned by Erica Tamburin and on Oct. 7, demonstrations by chain saw carver Jeff Roscoe, the Applefest will include a variety of musical entertainment.

The schedule includes singer-keyboardist Marvin Whiteman at 4 p.m. and performances from the Brooke County Arts Council, the volunteer group behind Brooke Hills Playhouse at 6 p.m., both on Oct. 6; the Studio B Dance Team at 11 a.m., the Fun Time Line Dancers at 1 p.m., Elvis tribute artist Robert Dale at 2 p.m., singer-guitarist Mark Henderson at 3 p.m., singer-guitarist D. David Stiles at 4 p.m. and local band Pocket Change from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., all on Oct. 7.

Entertainment on Oct. 8 will include music on a mountain dulcimer by Valerie Leasure at noon, the Hancock County Special Olympics Pride Dance Team at 12:30 p.m., Brooke High School Dance Team at 1 p.m., Brenda Casey Dance Studio at 2 p.m., Brooke County native and Broadway performer Johnna Leary at 3 p.m. and Buck Allen and His Bluegrass Band from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.