Applefest returned with much to see and do
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WELLSBURG -- The Wellsburg Applefest returned this weekend with much to see and do, including a variety of food, crafts and other merchandise for sale and activities for children and their parents and grandparents.
The weekend included amusement and miniature train rides, a classic car show sponsored by Team Ford Wellsburg, free face painting sponsored by Main Street Bank and a children's art table manned by Erica Tamburin.
Many children gathered on the Wellsburg Town Square with parents, grandparents and other adults to carve pumpkins into jack o'lanterns and other creations using safety knives provided by the Applefest Committee.
With help from the group, the Brooke County Public Library also held a pumpkin decorating contest.
Lynsie Merglowski of Wellsburg -- who was accompanied by her husband, Mike, and their daughters. Niera and Ellie -- said, "We came here for this (the carving contest) and the one the library does where they painted these little pumpkins."
"We look forward to the Applefest every year," she said.
While working on a pumpkin with her 7-year-old daughter, Matilda, Misty Gray of Steubenville said, "We have come down every year since I moved here about 12 years ago."
She said her children enjoy the various activities and especially the bounce house.
Though a chilly breeze rolled through the city's downtown business district, Charles Street was filled with visitors browsing the many booths lined along it.
Among them was Rich Beekman of RB Woodcarving of Shadyside, Ohio, who worked to sand a long-handled wooden spoon as visitors surveyed the assorted kitchen tools and other items he has made by hand.
Beekman said wood for his products has come from fallen trees and trimmed branches of area residents.
"I usually learn of it through word of mouth and boy, do I get some pretty wood," he said, noting he's carved from maple, walnut, birch and apple trees, among others.
Beekman said it was his fourth year at the festival, and it's been a good moneymaker for him.
Among several nonprofit groups raising money at the festival was the Franklin Community Volunteer Fire Department.
Franklin Fire Chief John Haas said the brisk weather helped boost sales of hot chocolate and coffee for the department, which also sold T-shirts and tumblers to generate funds for equipment.
Haas said the department was very fortunate to have nearly a dozen volunteers to work the booth.
Darla DiNardo embraced the festival as an opportunity to spread the word about her new restaurant, which will be opening later this year in the former location of Stella's, which stood just behind her booth.
Dubbed And It Was Good, a reference to Genesis 1:31, it will offer a variety of dishes, including items for breakfast, she said.
For the festival, she kept her offerings simple with stromboli and pepperoni rolls for sale.
On Saturday morning, the Town Square was occupied by several youth who accepted the Applefest Committee's invitation to set up a booth at no cost to raise money for various purposes.
Throughout the weekend, the committee and other volunteers, including members of the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Relay for Life Committee, manned the event's information booth, answering questions and selling apple pies and cider.
Not far away, Rachel Mounts of Two Antique Geeks of Follansbee staffed a table where she shared information about various old household items brought by visitors.
And the square itself served as stage for a variety of performers, from Elvis impersonator Robert Dale to local dance groups of all ages.
Adding to the festive atmosphere were large wooden, apple-shaped decorations painted by volunteers who mixed art and yoga in a recent session led by Taylor Provenzano of Soulshine LLC.