Little Buffalo hosts bigger, best festival
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NEWPORT -- There will be plenty of pumpkins, pickers and plump red apples at the Annual Apple Festival at Little Buffalo State Park, Newport, this weekend.
"We are gearing up for a bigger than ever Apple Festival," said Mindy Wilt, environmental education specialist at Little Buffalo State Park, 1579 State Park Road, Newport, of the festival which runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Sunday. "We want to share all of the great activities we have in store for this year's event."
The highlight this year might be the new Pumpkin Art Contest, featuring pumpkin painting and carving. Judge pumpkins that have been submitted by painting or carving in two different categories: ages 11 and under and ages 12 to 18. Prizes will be awarded based on a popular vote by festival goers.
"There's no entry fee, and prizes are awarded to the best pumpkin," Wilt added.
Children up to age 12 can also come to the festival and paint a pumpkin. All supplies will be provided. It starts at 10 a.m. today near the stage and lasts until the pumpkins are gone.
If history is more your forte, come see the gears turn and the 32-foot water wheel show its force as several hundred pounds of corn and gallons of apple cider are ground. The historians will be boiling their apple butter as usual, but this year Little Buffalo will supply jars.
Mill tours occur on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Blue Ball Tavern will also be open today and Sunday for visitors to view thousands of Perry County artifacts.
For musical entertainment, the Back Porch Pickers will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, while Jay Smar will take the stage with their "Ol Time Mt. Folk Music" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Other highlights include:
Greta from Antur Storytelling will be back at the Butterfly garden today. Her engaging stories are loved by kids and adults of all ages. Additional kids' story times on Sunday are slated for 11a.m., 1p.m., and 2 p.m.
Blacksmiths will demonstrate metal working, and fiber artists will showcase the art of spinning fiber, carding wool and weaving.
The Perry Piecemakers will show off their quilt-tying skills.
Michael Paluso will wow audiences with his glass demonstrating glass blowing on both days.
Several art and craft vendors will be available both days, selling unique holiday gifts. The lineup includes Valerie Moyer Fine Art, Lennox Market, Crocheted Crafts, Perry Valley Resin, Pottery, Candles, Chainsaw carvings, Electric Artery, Sylvan Dell Lavendar Farm, Metal Creations and Blackbeard's Bounty.
Educational displays, including live rattlesnakes on Sunday, will be on the stage and outdoor classroom throughout the festival.
Learn about unique antiques of the past with retired educator Paul Fagley and his display "Guess the Gadget."
Make your own butter to spread on your cornbread, or play with some old-fashioned toys, as well as explore macroinvertebrates and learn about birds, reptiles or honeybees.
A local falconer will bring birds and discuss the art of falconry. We'll even have our forestry ranger doing a primitive skills lesson during the event.
Of course, there's plenty of food with The Speckled Moose, Cumberland Gap BBQ, The Big Cheese and the Perry Historians.
For more information, call (717) 567-9255, visit www.events.dcnr.pa.gov or find them on Facebook.