Everything about apples will be celebrated at the Hay Creek Apple Festival to be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace, 1250 Furnace Road, Geigertown. The event will feature an assortment of apple dishes and other food items, an apple baking contest, children's activities, tours of Joanna Furnace buildings and a flea and craft market.

 This year marks the 45th annual festival being presented by the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association (HCVHA). "Parents who came to the event as kids are now returning with their own children," noted Mark Zerr, HCVHA executive director.

 The day will begin with an all-you-can-eat apple pancake breakfast, which will be served from 7 to 11 a.m. on both days in the Historic Joanna Furnace Mule Stable. Each breakfast will also include a piece of country sausage and a beverage, with options including juice or coffee.

 Food items available throughout the festival will include apple dumplings, apple pies, apple crisp, apple bread, homemade caramel apples with various toppings, apple fritters and hot mulled cider. The 19th-century Joanna Furnace apple cider press will be operating throughout each day with continuous demonstrations. Attendees can enjoy a cup of cider or buy a half-gallon to take home.

 Mabel's Kettle-Cooked Soups will be cooked over actual open fires. Varieties will include chicken corn noodle, beef vegetable and ham and bean with rivels (dumplings). "(Recipes for) Mabel's Kettle-Cooked Soups can be traced back to the meals served to 19th-century furnace workers' families," noted Zerr, adding that the soups will be available by the quart.

In addition to the apple dishes and soups, the menu will include pulled pork sandwiches, baked peppers filled with hamburger and rice, corn pie, macaroni and cheese, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, sausage sandwiches and chicken potpie, which will also be available by the quart. Beverages, including soda, water, coffee, wine and craft beer, will also be available.

"Many visitors make a point of purchasing our soups, potpie and apple baked desserts to take home and freeze for entertaining and holiday meals," Zerr noted.

An apple dessert contest will take place on Oct. 12. Contest categories include cakes and breads, cookies, pies and miscellaneous desserts. Items, along with a full recipe, should be brought to the Festival Food Court area between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Judging will take place at 10 a.m. Winners in each category will receive a monetary prize plus two complimentary passes to the upcoming Christmas at Joanna event. A special youth category will also be available for bakers under the age of 18. For complete contest rules, visit http://www.haycreek.org/hay-creek-applefestival or contact Ruth at 484-437-2801.  

The annual Hay Creek flea market will be open both days featuring more than 100 vendors offering household goods, antique and vintage items, tools, clothing, children's toys, home decor and craft items. The market will open early each day at 7 a.m. Interested craft and flea market vendors should contact Kathleen at 610-914-8152 to reserve a booth. Same-day reservations will also be accepted. Setup for the market will be on Friday, Oct. 11, from noon to 5 p.m., or Oct. 12 starting at 6 a.m.

The Historic Joanna Furnace buildings will be open with costumed interpreters telling the full historical story of 19th-century iron making. Visitors will also be able to watch a 22-minute Joanna Furnace history video in the charcoal barn. In the blowing engine house, a new exhibit will focus on the Joanna Furnace hot-blast system, which was installed in 1888, where a blast of air was sent into the furnace to help power it.

Family activities through the Apple Festival will include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, hayrides and face painting. Children can also ride the Apple Barrel Express. All family activities will start at 9 a.m.

Visitors can create their own scarecrow on-site, or they can purchase a scarecrow kit to build one at home. "Volunteers have been busy this year sewing and patching shirts and pants for our scarecrow-making booth," Zerr reported. 

Historic Joanna Furnace is located off Route 10, 3 miles north of Morgantown. Admission to the Hay Creek Apple Festival is free. Parking will be offered on-site for donation.

All proceeds will support HCVHA's educational and restoration projects. For more information, visit http://www.haycreek.org or http://www.facebook.com/historicjoannafurnace. Those with questions may call 610-286-0388 or email info@haycreek.org.