The Sentinel from Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 34

I Arendtsville about apples I -Off! wia i Lm.i's.fw The National Apple Harvest Festival will be at the South Mountain Fairgrounds the next two weekends. the peanuts. We come here just for your Planning for the National Apple Harvest Festival begins almost as soon as the previous year's festival is over, Harman said. And nearly $100,000 goes into advertising for the annual event, she added. There are more than 300 arts and crafts vendors, who must apply to be a part of the festival, Harman said.

This year, the vendors will be selling items such as wreaths, dry flower arrangements, paintings and sweaters. All of the crafts are hand-made by the vendors, Harman said. This year's entertainment will include tractor square See Apples, D10 ri ls niiMiiarti mi frl" Itoftfti fill iijiMHMM "ii ii IftMiiliiiMnMlliiiiii Sentinel file photo Festival-goers work together as a team to load apples in to a cider press to make apple cider at the National Apple Harvest Festival. Kings Gap Environmental Education Center I 500 Kings Gap Road, Carlisle, PA 17015 widen BY ERICA DOLSON SENTINEL REPORTER edolsoncumberlink.com Adams County is known for its apple orchards. And the South Mountain Fairgrounds, just 10 miles northwest of Gettysburg near Arendtsville, is known for the National Apple Harvest Festival.

This weekend and next weekend, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 visitors will descend on the fairgrounds to see the arts and crafts vendors, to watch the six stages of entertainment and to taste the kettle corn, applesauce and candied apples. This year will mark the 46th annual National Apple Harvest Festival. For many people, it's a tradition that brings them from places like Florida and Wisconsin year after year. "We have a lot of entertainment compared to other festivals, and I think that's what keeps people coming back," said Mary Harman, office administrator for the National Apple Harvest Festival. "(The regulars) never want to miss it.

It's a favorite festival of many." According to its official website, the National Apple Harvest Festival began as an event of the Adams County Fruitgrowers Association, after successfully running Apple Blossom Sunday since the 1950s. In 1965, the Upper Adams Jaycees organized the event themselves for the first time. The festival expanded to two weekends in 1975. Every year, the festival tries to add something new "We have a lot of entertainment compared to other festivals, and I think that's what keeps people coming back." MARY HARMAN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR this year, for instance, an apple plume instead of bob- bing for apples and organizers always try to vary the arts and crafts vendors, Harman said. 'Family event' Ed Gotwalt, owner of Mister Ed's Elephant Museum, has been a vendor at the festival for 36 years.

"It's a real family event," he said. "It's one of those events you go to, and everyone's in a good mood, everybody's having a good time." Gotwalt is known for his freshly roasted peanuts, lemonade, soft pretzels and Gala apples sliced into wedges and dipped in caramel and peanuts. Although his offerings have not changed in recent years, and will remain the same this year, they are traditions for many recurring customers, he said. "We sell an awful lot of (our apples). They're won-, derful," he said.

"(People say), 'We come here just for 1 CM mi no iiifiiiWWt7m 4 only nine years old, Ethan Bortnick is already achieving accomplishments that many musicians work towards for an entire career. Ethan learned to play the piano at the early age of three by mimicking any music he would hear, whether on the radio or while listening to the popular Baby Einstein series. With a talent well beyond his years and the ability to play almost any song by ear, he has developed a repertoire spanning from classical masterpieces to timeless jazz standards to current IK Sunday, October 3 Noon 5:00 Rain or Shine Kettle-Cooked SoupF ood Stands ManskvGarden Tours Craft Vendors Ro Apple Butter Making Cider-Pressing Butter Making Leaf Printing Dried Flower Craft Pumpkin Painting mm Corn-Shelling Cracking Beekeeper ILiy Rides Pony Rides Gift Shop Exhibits Bird Feeder Building ss CO 5 S3 a. CO I a Free Admission! (Nominal fees for all "make and take" items) Call 717-486-3799 for additional information.