Apples ready to harvest are a sure sign that fall is in the air. Enjoy a crisp autumn weekend at Historic Joanna Furnace and the Hay Creek Apple Festival. Throughout the weekend, Oct. 10 and 11, Historic Joanna Furnace becomes the setting for the area’s premier apple attraction. These two days focus on the enjoyment of delicious, homemade apple foods, out-of-the-ordinary fun and immersion in local history.
“Over this second weekend in October, your family and friends can spend the entire day filled with hayrides, scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and historic experiences,” said Hay Creek Valley Executive Director Mark Zerr. “At the same time you can indulge in some fantastic homemade foods like apple dumplings, apple pies and, well, any food possible made with apples. To experience a unique getaway from the hustle and bustle of today, then stepping into the past 150 years at Joanna Furnace is just what a busy family needs. Put on your appetites, give your ‘historic’ imagination free reign and immerse your family in our 19th century celebration of real foods and real fun.”
The Foods From Hay Creek’s Famous Traditional Apple Festival Menu
Start the day with the all-you-can-eat apple pancake breakfast, served from 7 to 11 a.m. both days. Then, throughout each day, every imaginable 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. Nearby, traditional apple foods like Schnitz un Knepp (apples, dumplings and ham) and apple butter are always a special treat. Additional delights available include roasted nuts, kettle corn and a large variety of freshly picked apples by the bag.
The menu includes traditional early American dishes with such favorites as apple dumplings, apple pies, apple crisp, homemade caramel apples with various toppings, apple sausage sandwiches, apple fritters, hot mulled cider and fresh pressed cider. And not to be missed is Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soup, cooked to perfection over open fires (Chicken Corn, Beef Vegetable, Ham & Bean with Rivels). Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soups are also available by the quart for take home, and you can freeze them for eating later. And, if anyone wants an even wider menu, chicken potpie (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.
Visitors can savor the above specialties, eating on site and then taking additional food home to enjoy later. Many visitors purchase our soups, potpie and apple baked dessert goods to take home and freeze in preparation for entertaining and holiday meals.
Hay Creek Apple Baking ContestThe annual Hay Creek Apple Dessert Contest will take place on Saturday morning. This Apple Dessert Contest is open to all those who love to create their own special desserts. Bring your entries: pies, cakes, breads, muffins, desserts and Heritage Recipes to the Festival Food Court area between 8 and 9 a.m. Don’t forget to include your detailed recipe along with your entry. The winning recipes from the last two year’s Apple Dessert Contests have been put together in a new Hay Creek Apple Dessert Cookbook and will be available for purchase at this year’s event. This year’s winners will have their recipes published next year in the 2016 dessert cookbook. Bakers interested in entering a favorite recipe should see details on the website for categories, rules and prize amounts. As collectors’ items, four previous years’ Apple Baking Contest Cookbooks will also be available for sale.
The Apple Festival Flea MarketOne of the best fall flea markets in the area, the Annual Hay Creek Flea Market will be open both days. For anyone wishing to participate with a flea market stand, there is a charge for renting a flea market table. Call 610-286-0388 for details.
Family ActivitiesNumerous family activities round out this year’s two-day festival. These family events include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, early American games and hay and pony rides. The children will especially love a ride on the popular Apple Barrel Express. Scarecrows can be built on site or visitors can purchase scarecrow kits to build at home. Kits will include a “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 a bandana or belt, hat, tie, etc. and a small amount of straw to stick out of the hands and feet. At-home builders can use their own newspaper to stuff their scarecrow.
Additional activities include a Petting Zoo, working archaeologists at the Wheelwright Shop and exhibits in the Mechanical Technology Building.
All five Joanna Furnace Historic Buildings will be open with garbed interpreters telling the full story of Joanna Furnace and her iron: The Blacksmith Shop complete with her 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 products and recovered archaeological artifacts.
Even today, the fall apple harvest is strongly associated with our local rural culture. The aroma of fresh apples in the cool autumn air brings back many memories to the older of us and forms special memories for the youngsters of today. For more than 30 years, parents have made this nearby event a family tradition. The youngsters who came to this festival during the early years are now bringing their own children back to help them create their memories.
The Hay Creek Apple Festival at Historic Joanna Furnace will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Festival site is at Historic Joanna Furnace off Route 10, three miles north of Morgantown. Turn on Furnace Road and proceed to site entrance.
Admission to the Festival is free. Parking is on site with a parking donation. All proceeds from Hay Creek-Joanna Furnace events support educational and restoration projects through the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and this significant historic site called Joanna Furnace.
For more information visit www.haycreek.org. or call 610-286-0388.
