Four Flags Apple Festival opens today
Published 9:41 pm Thursday, September 29, 2005
By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The 33rd Annual Four Flags Area Apple Festival swings into full motion, starting today.
The festival's events will be taking place at the apple festival grounds located at the corner of 17th and Lake streets.
Todays events include the judging of the window decorating contest for downtown businesses at 1 p.m. The theme for this years Apple Festival is "Wings over Festival."
The Skerbeck Brothers Inc., carnival will begin at 3 p.m. today and will run through 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The Apple Products tent also opens today and will be open each day till the close of the festival.
Finally the Apple Festival prince and princess will be selected at a random drawing tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the South Bend Tribune/WSBT Radio Station main tent.
Friday's draw will be the 7:30 p.m. performance of Da Yoopers. This group's comedy songs and sketches will appeal to people of all ages.
Saturday night's entertainment will be "Elvis meets the Beatles." Niles' favorite Elvis impersonator Irv Cass will be performing along with the Liverpool Legends. Their 7:30 p.m. show is being held at the South Bend Tribune Main Tent/WSBT radio stations stage.
Following the entertainment on both Friday and Saturday night there will be a fireworks show.
The "Apple Festival Grande Parade," which is the highlight of the festival, will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The parade will feature over 100 participants, including firetrucks, bands, clowns, queens, floats and much more. The parade will start at the corner of Sycamore and Second streets and will travel up Main Street to Niles Senior High School.
The festival will also feature the 16th annual Lip Sync contest, which will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, at the main tent.
The sixth annual Apple Festival Custom Car Show will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, at the National Standard grounds.
Another popular event is the apple pie eating contest, which begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
There will also be the scarecrow contest, apple seed popping contest, arts and crafts booths, an apple peeling contest and a log sawing contest. Rosco the Clown will be making several appearances.
For more information on the 33rd Four Flags Apple Festival go to www.fourflagsapplefestival.org.