Good country fun planned for upcoming Johnny Appleseed Fair Eryn Dion News Staff Writer PHILLIPSTON — The Red Apple Farm will play host to a weekend of “good country fun” to help usher in the harvest season with the third annual Johnny Appleseed Country Fair, sponsored by the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center. “We’re looking to make this a good country event where you can come and stay,” said Diane Burnette, director of the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center. Visitors to the fair at the Red Apple Farm will have a lot to choose from, as both days are packed with live music from the Northern Company Band and competitions, including the garden tractor pull — a fair staple — as well as many new and exciting features. “Each year, we bring on something new so it’s fresh,” Ms. Burnette said. This year will bring the fair’s first FiddleFest, where competitors of all ages can showcase their fiddle skills and compete for prizes. “I went to one at the Bolton Fair and it was very impressive,” said Ms. Burnette. “It’s a dying art and the officials were very excited that we wanted to bring it here.” During FiddleFest, which kicks off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, fiddlers must play three songs from memory, all with different tempos. While they’ll all be playing the same instrument, Ms. Burnette said the event will draw a wide variety of musical styles, from country fiddling to Irish folk and Celtic songs. Musicians will perform in front of representatives from the North American Fiddlers Judges Association, who will then dole out prizes. Also new this year is the introduction of food trucks, which Ms. Burnette said will offer any and all types of food for the curious and hungry. “You name it, we’re going to have it,” Ms. Burnette commented. “You better come hungry because we’re going to have lots of great food.” Above all, Ms. Burnette said the fair is about celebrating the farmers and artisans of the area who produce goods for “Johnny Appleseed Country,” which stretches from Athol east to Ayer. “We promote the region,” Ms. Burnette said. “Handmade, handcrafted, and hand grown. That’s what our event is.” The Red Apple Farm will be open during the fair for visitors to check out the newly renovated store and several other projects that have been completed throughout the winter and spring around the property. The Johnny Appleseed Country Fair will run Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston. The Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center is a state-owned visitors center located on Route 2 in Lancaster that is managed by the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 13:42:32 +0000
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