Make Cider Fest the apple of your eye

If you like fresh apple pie, cider pressing, experiencing an old fashioned barn raising and plenty of fall fun, then make sure to attend the McHenry County Historical Society's Cider Fest.

The 38th annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the museum, 6422 Main St. in Union. In addition to free access to the museum, guests are invited to participate in an Apple Bake-Off, take home a variety of homemade apple treats and experience what is was like to attend classes in a one-room school. Visitors also may help with a barn raising starting at 11:30 a.m. and visit with costumed Civil War re-enactors from noon to 3 p.m. and listen to the sounds of Charlie B and Friends between 1 and 3 p.m.

Throughout the day there will be blacksmithing and cider-making demonstrations. Apple baked goods and kettle korn will be among the food items on sale. Rare books, antique clothing and hard-to-find items also will on sale during the Society's biannual white elephant sale.

Silent auction aficionados can bid on unique books being sold from the collection. They include county atlases and history books.

In addition to the museum, the Gannon family 1843 log cabin, the 1895 West Harmony one-room school and the newly updated mobile museum, The James, will be open free all day.

Apple Bake-Off: Is grandma's old apple pie recipe melt-in-your-mouth marvelous? Does your apple bars take the cake? Now you have a chance to prove it. As part of the 38th annual Cider Fest Sunday, Oct. 4, the McHenry County Historical Society will host its first Apple Bake-off Contest. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with judging following at 10:30 a.m. in the 1895 West Harmony School. The school is on the museum grounds at 6422 Main St. in Union.

Categories are apple pies, apple cakes and other apple desserts. There is a $2 fee per item. First- to third-place contestants in each of the three categories will receive ribbons, with a special prize going to the grand champion. All baked goods entered should be in disposable containers or dishes marked with the contestant's name and phone number for pickup after judging. Entries will be divided and repackaged for sale that day.

Visit the event page on Facebook.

All proceeds benefit the nonprofit historical society. For information, call (815) 923-2267 or visit www.mchenrycountyhistory.org. Follow the historical society on Facebook.