Autumn down to the core
What better way to usher in the fall season than to attend the 15th annual Johnny Appleseed Festival?
The festival, planned by the Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street organization, is set to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Crystal Lake.
"It's my favorite event. It has a smile for everyone," said Diana Kenney, executive director at Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street.
"It's multi-generational. I see grandmas with daughters, and sons with grandchildren in strollers." she said.
"The festival evokes memories for all ages."
The celebration includes music, entertainment, square dancing, bobbing for apples, an apple pie-baking contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin train, pumpkin bowling, clowns, children's games, face-painting, storytelling, temporary tattoos, wagon rides, a farmers market and more. A craft fair will occupy Ormsby Motors' parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And any fall festival worthy of the season's name has to have scarecrows; downtown merchants will display their handiwork of this type throughout the festival area.
Visitors will find a great variety of apple-related food and drink, including apple cider and apple pie, of course. Regular festival fare is offered by downtown restaurants and food booths.
The main man himself, Johnny Appleseed, will wander the festival streets, relating his adventures of planting apple nurseries from Pennsylvania to Illinois.
Kenney prefers that the identity of the festival namesake's portrayer remain secret, referring to him only as "Johnny Appleseed."
We do know he is an educator from Fort Wayne, Ind.
"He's great. He gets down with the little ones and tells stories to all," Kenney said.
A highlight of the festival is The Great Ball Race, which takes off at 2 p.m. on Brink Street. When you buy a numbered raffle ticket, a colored plastic ball receives that same number. Then, stand back and cheer for your entry as the balls roll down Brink Street. The fastest balls win prizes for their owners. The first ball to the finish line earns $1,000 for the raffle ticket holder.
Tickets, at one for $5, three for $10 or seven for $20, will be available at The Great Ball Race table at Brink and Williams streets.
The festival wouldn't get off the ground without the many volunteers involved.
"There are about 100 volunteers who help out," Kenney said.
"Prairie Ridge High School honor students are volunteers. It's great to see kids involved in their community."
For details, call (815) 479-0835 or e-mail to downtowncl@sbcglobal.net.
Funds raised at the festival go to Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street. The nonprofit organization puts up holiday lights in the trees and takes care of flower beds, among other duties, to help maintain historic downtown Crystal Lake.