After some unseasonably warm weather last week, the chill of fall has officially set in, and with it, the annual festivals marking the change of seasons.
Locally, the Shaker Hill Apple Festival and Chalk on the Walk took place over the last few weekends, and on tap this Saturday are the 24th annual Cornish Apple Festival, Punkinfiddle at the Wells Reserve, the Maine Pumpkin Growers Organization weigh-off in Sanford and the second Pumpkin Patch Trolley Weekend at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Also this weekend, the Fryeburg Fair kicks off.
As the leaves progress in changing to bright hues of yellow, orange and red, October will bring haunted hay rides and haunted houses, pumpkin picking and decorating, and more harvest festivals and fairs.
Fall in southern Maine is a beautiful season and the aforementioned festivals offer the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the sights and weather in this region. These events are also low-cost activities for families to spend time together, away from television sets and computer screens.
A lot of the offerings also support good causes, like the Shaker Hill Apple Festival, which benefited York County Shelter Programs in Alfred, helping the organization provide services and shelter to homeless people and others in need. Punkinfiddle, set for Saturday, is held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, a nonprofit, national estuarine research reserve. Punkinfiddle will feature crafts, hands-on learning, music, old-fashioned games, food and farm animals, and it coincides with National Estuaries Day. Children younger than 16 get in for free, and admission is $7 for adults.
The Cornish Apple Festival, also on Saturday, is free and features apples, cider and other apple products, as well as art, photography, jewelry, crafts and food. There is entertainment provided by local performers, and the annual Apple Pie Baking Contest and Auction.
In addition to getting families and visitors outdoors and enjoying the fall weather, these festivals also support a number of local businesses, artists and entertainers, as well as farms that sell apples and pumpkins and offer pick-your-own in conjunction with these events. Spending time and money locally puts funds back into the York County economy, which is good for everyone here in southern Maine.
We hope people will take the time to visit a festival, farm or orchard ”“ or more than one ”“ to “buy local” while also getting active and getting outdoors.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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