"It's a popular community event," said Poole Forge executive director Dawn Ekdahl when describing the annual celebration of Poole Forge Day. "One of my favorite parts is that local community members and neighbors come out. It's a big social get-together."

This year's Poole Forge Day, featuring children's activities, food, crafts, live music, goat races, a volleyball tournament and more, will take place at Historic Poole Forge on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

The event will begin at the picnic pavilion, where there will be a presentation by the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center. Also in the pavilion, children will be able to create twig art using items from nature. "There will be a reptile display and beekeeper display in the pavilion in addition to the arts and crafts," Ekdahl noted.

The popular goat races, where goat owners guide their goats through a specified course, will take place beginning at 2:30 p.m. "The goat has to lead. The handler cannot lead the goat," Ekdahl explained. "That's what makes it funny. When the goats take off, they really go."

There will also be a turtle race at 3:30 p.m. Visitors who "purchase" green rubber turtles that will float down the Conestoga Creek will be in the running for prizes. The first turtle across the line will get the grand prize noted. There will also be smaller prizes for the other top finishers.

An Amish youth volleyball tournament will take place in the ballfield and meadow across the creek. "They play from morning to dark. It's a daylong tournament," Ekdahl said. "(Players) are coming from over all Pennsylvania, from a number of different counties. It's become a popular location for a tournament."

The Penn's Woods Puppet Theater will present three shows of "Rumpelstiltskin" throughout the course of the day, and there will be barrel train rides for children. Other activities will include hayrides around the Poole Forge property; a display of military vehicles; a silent auction, with goods and gift certificates donated by local businesses; a pet and pony cart parade; and demonstrations by the Lancaster Spinners and Weavers Guild.

The 18th-century Welsh ironmaster's mansion will be open for self-guided tours, and live music will be offered on the mansion porch.

Offering food and beverages will be the Farmhouse Stickys food truck, Jacquelyn's Frituras Paradise and Father and Son Barbecue. Poole Forge will offer soft ice cream and smoothies, and the Caernarvon Ladies' Auxiliary Food Wagon will be on-site.

The day will end with an airplane candy drop, weather permitting, by Wilmer Zimmerman, who will also do aerial stunts in the ultralight that he pilots. "It's a great way to end the day. The kids are so excited for it," Ekdahl added.

Historic Poole Forge is located at 1940 Main St., Narvon (Churchtown), 7 miles east of New Holland and 5 miles west of Morgantown. For more information and a detailed schedule of Poole Forge Day events, visit http://www.historicpooleforge.org or http://www.facebook.com/pooleforge.