Hay Creek Apple Festival returns
The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association will hold its annual Apple Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 2020 festival will see some changes due to COVID-19 safety regulations, organizers say.
Visitors are welcome to travel to Joanna Furnace and pick up their favorite foods and are encouraged to pre-order at www. haycreek.org by Monday, Oct. 5.
Visitors can enjoy seasonal favorites, including apple cider, apple pie, apple crisp, and apple cinnamon bread. Therewill also be apple fritters and the traditional Snitz Un Knepp (Apples and Dumplings).
Because of coronavirus restrictions, there will be no Apple Dessert Contest this year.
The festival’s famous open fire cooked soups are available at the festival and sold by the quart— chicken corn noodle, beef vegetable, ham & bean, and chicken pot pie.
Other foods available at the event include a boxmeal (sausage sandwich with french fries and a drink), hot dogs, and soup sold by the bowl.
There is no annual breakfast this year, but the festival will have egg and bacon breakfast sandwiches available.
Scarecrow kits will be available to purchase to take home or visitors can sign up for a time slot to make a scarecrow at the festival. Time slots will be allotted on a first-come firstserved basis and can be reserved through email to Tammy at leah19551@yahoo.com.
The flea market and select craft vendors will also be open for visitors to peruse. Individuals who are interested in setting up a flea market booth should call Kathleen Rhode at 610-914-8152. Booth setup will be Friday, October 9th from 12 noon to 6 pm or
Saturday morning from 6am-8am. Food sales are not permitted in the flea market.
Another casualty of coronavirus restrictions is the regular children’s activities held at the festival. This includes hay rides, pony rides, face painting, etc. The historic buildings will also remain closed.
Here are some other details about the 2020 Hay Creek Apple Festival:
• All parking will be on the festival grounds and visitors will be asked to give a donation to the historical association at the festival entrance.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be set up as various booths to help ensure cleanliness. Everyone will be required to sanitize their hands at the festival gate. All outside vendors will be asked to provide hand sanitizing bottles at their booth.
• Because of the spread of the virus, the festival will not be setting up any tables or chairs for our visitors. (Visitors are welcome to bring their own folding chair to sit.)
• Face masks will be required at the gate area and for all sales from vendors.
Everyone will be required to social distance at the event.
• There will be curbside pickup for customers who prefer not to enter our festival.
The organization will also offer online pre-orders so guests can reserve and pay for their favorite foods ahead of time for pick-up.
To pre-order foods visit our website at: https://haycreek.org/food-raiser/
The festival site is at Historic Joanna Furnace just off Route 10, three miles north of Morgantown; turn right on Furnace Road.
Admission to the Festival is free. Parking is on site with a donation.
For more information, visit www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388