Applefest Crowd turns out for Mars festival
MARS — The annual Mars Applefest is about more than its namesake fruit.
“It's really about promoting the downtown businesses here,” said Chuck Berry, president of the Rich-Mar Rotary Club, which organizes the event.
The event on Saturday closed Grand Avenue to traffic and was filled with 110 food, craft and organizations' vendor booths. Downtown businesses remained open. Live music played at a stage near the Mars National Bank, and there were a variety of children's activities.
“You find an eclectic mix,” Berry said.
Early in the afternoon, the street was packed with people walking around and checking the vendors.
“It's this crowded, easily, all day,” Berry said.
Saturday was periodically cloudy and humid. Berry said it was better weather than last year.
“I'll take this,” Berry said, noting that it rained quite a bit last year.
Martha Davis has been to many Applefests, having spent a lot of time in the borough
“I grew up on Beaver Street,” Davis said.
However, she moved to St. Louis two years ago, and this was her first time back for the event since then. She liked that the vendors have since expanded farther down Grand Avenue.
She also said she got a chance to see neighbors and friends she had not seen in a while.
“This is like a family reunion,” Davis said.
Marie Eyles of Harmony and Jackie Frederick of Cranberry Township randomly decided to come to the event, never having been there before“We are impressed,” Eyles said.They were surprised by the size and variety of the event. They also enjoyed potato chip cookies and coffee from downtown merchants. Frederick said she also ran into people she knew.It was their first Applefest, but they were hooked.“We'll definitely come back,” Eyles said.Pat Sleeth of Pittsburgh also was at his first Applefest. His girlfriend lives in the borough, and wanted to go to the event with her mom.“I kind of just was dragged along,” Sleeth said.However, he was enjoying a hot sausage sandwich at the same time.“The food's good,” said Sleeth, who also wanted to check some of the musical acts.Jillian Reed of Morgantown, W.Va., was another first-time attendee.“It's crowded, but it's nice,” said Reed, whose father lives in Mars.Her 17-month-old son, Lincoln, enjoyed seeing all of the dogs that people brought while his mother was waiting for a hot dog.“The food smells great,” Reed said.
