Come visit the Joanna Furnace Iron Works, near Morgantown, and the Hay Creek Apple Festival on October 14 and 15. You’ll be pleasantly entertained at one of the most family-friendly festivals in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Even today, the traditional fall apple harvest is strongly rooted within our local rural culture. The aroma of fresh apples in the cool autumn air brings back pleasant memories to adults and creates special memories for our children. For over 30 years, parents have made this event a family tradition. Hay Creek Historians strive to create a special kind of event where visitors savor homemade apple fare, experience fun for the entire family and take tours of the historic iron furnace complex.
This event celebrates APPLE foods!
Visitors generally arrive early and start the day with the renowned Hay Creek all-you-can-eat apple pancake breakfast, served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. Then throughout each day, every imaginable traditional apple food is available . . . from freshly pressed cider to fritters, pies, tarts, dumplings, and so much more. The 19th century Joanna Furnace apple cider press will be operating throughout each day with continuous demonstrations. Experience freshly pressed Hay Creek Cider by the cup or by the gallon to take home.
The menu includes the uniting of traditional early American dishes with such additional favorites as apple dumplings, apple pies, apple crisp, homemade caramel apples with various toppings, apple sausage sandwiches, apple fritters, hot mulled cider and the freshly pressed cider. Another regional treat, Schnitz un Knepp (apples, dumplings, and ham) is always a special treat.
And not to be missed is Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soups, cooked to perfection over actual open fires. (Chicken Corn, Beef Vegetable, Ham & Bean with rivels). Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soups recipes can be traced back to the 19th century. They are also available by the quart for take home and can be frozen to be enjoyed later.
The menu gets even wider . . . chicken pot pie (also available by the quart for take home), hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, soda, water and coffee and additional festive foods and beverages are always available. Many visitors make a point of purchasing our soups, pot pie and apple baked dessert goods to take home and freeze in preparation for entertaining and holiday meals.
The Annual Hay Creek Flea Market will be open both days. For anyone wishing to participate by having their own flea market stand, the cost for set-up is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Spaces are filling up rapidly, so anyone interested in a flea market or craft stand should call Kathleen at 610-914-8152 for details.
Numerous family activities are woven throughout this two-day festival. These family activities include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, early American games, plus hay and pony rides and more. The children will especially love to ride on the popular Apple Barrel Express.
Scarecrows can be built on site or visitors can purchase ‘scarecrow kits’ to build at home. Each scarecrow kit includes a wooden “t” frame, pants, shirt, head, string and accessories. As each scarecrow will have its own personality, each kit will contain varying details including such unique things as bandana or belt, hat, tie, etc. and a small amount of straw to stick out of the hands and feet. Homebuilders can use their own newspaper to stuff their scarecrow.
Other activities include a Petting Zoo, early American food cooking demonstrations and exhibits in the Mechanical Technology Building.
All five Joanna Furnace Ironworks Historic Complex Buildings will be open with interpreters telling the full story of the ironworks and village. The Blacksmith Shop complete with the working blacksmith; The Blowing Engine House with a 22-minute video telling the Joanna Furnace story; The Casting House with molders and workers demonstrating the casting process; The Office/Store with the Storekeeper; and the Charcoal House Museum with interpreters showing the process of charcoal making, actual Joanna Furnace stoves and products and recovered archaeological artifacts.
The Hay Creek Apple Festival at Joanna Furnace Iron Works will be held on Saturday, October 14, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 15, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Historic Joanna Furnace Ironworks is located off Route 10; three miles north of Morgantown . . . turn on Furnace Road and proceed to site entrance.
Admission to the Hay Creek Apple Festival is FREE. Parking is on site with a parking donation. All proceeds from Hay Creek events support educational and restoration projects – through the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and this significant 18th and 19th historic site, Joanna Furnace Ironworks. For more information, visit www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388.
