Get ready to rock at the 37th apple festival

Published 9:35 am Thursday, October 1, 2009

Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Blackhawk will offer a country music concert for the 37th annual Four Flags Apple Festival, which will be followed by fireworks. Saturday's entertainment at 8:15 p.m. is The System/Bob Seger Tribute. (Photo provided)

Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Blackhawk will offer a country music concert for the 37th annual Four Flags Apple Festival, which will be followed by fireworks. Saturday's entertainment at 8:15 p.m. is The System/Bob Seger Tribute. (Photo provided)

Apples are in abundance this year in Southwestern Michigan and what better way to celebrate the bounty than by attending the 37th Four Flags Area Apple Festival. The main events will begin today and continue through Sunday, Oct. 4. This year’s theme is Rockin’ in the USA.

Pre-festival activities began Sept. 19 with the crowning of Miss Apple Festival 2009 and Jr. Miss Apple Festival 2009 at the Niles High School. Saturday, area children enjoyed the Youth Parade, Youth Fun Day and the Trike race.

Tonight the fun for children continues with the Skerbeck Brothers Carnival from 3 to 10 p.m. You can buy a $20 wristband for your child for all rides until close that day. New this year is wristband Sunday. Wristbands are only good for the day they are purchased.
Friday’s entertainment spectacular is the nationally acclaimed country group Blackhawk. Saturday, get ready for The System/Bob Seger Tribute.

Great entertainment both nights! Apple Festival is happy to bring these talented performers at no cost to our guests.

The Grand Parade on Saturday, Oct. 3, starts at the corner of Sycamore and Second streets at 1:30 p.m. and ends at the Niles High School.

Children and those young at heart will be dazzled by the fireworks that will be set off both Friday and Saturday nights at approximately 9 p.m.

There will be a large array of local arts and crafts on Saturday and Sunday at the Apple Festival grounds.

The Apple Festival also challenges you to compete in many contests!.This year will include the scarecrow contest, horseshoes, log sawing, apple pie eating, apple peeling, apple seed popping, biggest apple growing contest, beard and mustache contest and homemade apple pies, pastries and cake contest. There are categories for young and not so young in many of the contests.

One of everyone’s favorite competitions is the Lip Sync contest, which is held Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. This area always produces some great contenders for the awards of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in three age groups. Those who preregistered, appeared at the Lip Sync Review on Sept. 19 at the Niles amphitheater.
Who doesn’t like that great fair food? The quality of products in the Apple Festival Apple Products tents is excellent. There is also a pancake breakfast both Saturday and Sunday morning and our annual ‘open stage’ which features non-professionals getting together for some fun pickin’ & grinin’. There will also be a large array of ‘festival food’ to choose from all weekend including elephant ears, corn dogs, cotton candy, caramel apples … the list is endless!

Car enthusiasts and casual observers alike will love the Custom Car Show on Sunday, Oct 4 across the street, with an outstanding display of old and new cars and trucks.

Make plans now to come on down to the 37th Annual Four Flags Area Apple Festival.
For more information, visit fourflagsapplefestival.org or call 683-8870.