By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The 32nd Annual Four Flags Area Apple Festival kicks into full gear Thursday, Sept. 30.
The judging of downtown business window decorations begins at 1:00 p.m. The theme of the Applefest this year is "4 Flags, 4 Seasons, 4-Ever."
The Niles District Library Friends of the Library will be holding a book sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
The weekend entertainment will be provided by Elvis impersonators Irv Cass and Dwight Icenhower, who will be performing a three hour show beginning at 7:30 p.m., on Friday Oct. 1.
Saturday night, country music singer Andy Griggs will be providing the entertainment from 9:30 to 11 p.m.
The Apple Festival Grande Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and will run along the same route the parade has traveled in past years, despite concerns the downtown street scape project won't be completed in time.
Apple Festival President Michael Kessler would like to assure that any and all rumors concerning the Applefest parade are false.
Kessler received assurance from Niles Public Works Director Neil Coulston that the parade route would be ready in time for the festival.
Old favorites and Applefest mainstays, like the Lip Sync contest and the custom car show will be held Sunday, Oct. 3.
The Lip Sync contest begins at 1:00 p.m. and runs to 3:00 p.m. in the main tent, with cash prizes awarded to the top contestants.
The custom car show, which in previous years had been held on the Saturday of the Applefest, will begin at 9:00 a.m. Oct. 3 and will run until 5:00 p.m. at the National Standard grounds.
The Niles City and Township Fire Departments will present "The Captain Murph &Poky Show" with "Flash the fire truck" and Lt. Dan with Flicker mini shows promoting safety, saving lives, and fighting fires. The shows will began at noon every day Oct. 1 through Oct. 3.
Anyone who would like more information on the Apple Festival should call the Apple Festival office at (269) 683-8870 or log onto the festival's official web-site at www.fourflagsapplefestival.com.