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Four fall festivals coming to York and Adams Counties


With Labor Day behind us, we can soon say good-bye to the sweltering temperatures, the smell of freshly cut lawns and trips to the community pool.

But the good part is, autumn is on its way, bringing falling leaves, apple cider, and crisp, breezy days.

Much of what we enjoy about the season can be found at family-friendly fall festivals. Let's take a look at a few:

Brown's Orchards and Farm Market Apple Fall Fun Day

1-4 p.m. Sept. 26

Brown's annual fall festival is sure to brings smiles to attendees with yard games, crafts, a mini straw maze, and Alpacas of Sunset Fields.

There will also be two paid events — scarecrow making for $10 with the Loganville 4-H and facepainting by Makin' Faces, with prices starting at $5.

"They bring all of the supplies ... enough to make about 100," Brown's marketing director Linda Gallagher said. "They go down through an assembly line to make a scarecrow."

As for Makin' Faces, Gallagher said a person's entire face is transformed into a superhero or animal.

Brown's is located at 8892 Susquehanna Trail South, Springfield Township.

For more information, go to www.brownsorchards.com

National Apple Harvest Festival

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11

Held at the South Mountain Fairgrounds in Adams County, not too far from Gettysburg, the National Apple Harvest Festival is in its 51st year.

Many of the events and attractions at the festival have been going on since its inception, including arts and crafts, an antique car show, apple cider press and the Apple Blossom Queen.

"Entertainment has grown to include bands playing live music on several stages throughout the fairgrounds, Native American dancers, tractor square dancing, a petting zoo, steam engine with working shingle mill, apple pie auction, whose proceeds are donated to charity, and much, much more," according to its website.

The fairgrounds are located at 615 Narrows Road, Biglerville.

For more information, go to www.appleharvest.com

Stauffers of Kissel Hill Fall Festival

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26 and Oct. 3; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 and Oct. 4

The festival, held at the same times and dates at the home and garden business' Dover and East York locations, will feature tons of free activities, including pumpkin painting (cannonball-sized pumpkins only), a straw maze, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, pumpkin hopscotch, corn box, bean bag toss, ring toss, make it take it necklace, wash-off tattoos and photo opportunity area.

The festival will also hold a pay event — build a scarecrow.

On Sept. 26 in East York, there will be a visit from the York County SPCA, the Painted Springs Alpacas, with handmade Alpaca items for sale, and a Wrightsville Senior Center bake sale. Both weekends, there will be fire trucks on display.

Stauffers in Dover is located at 3949 Carlisle Road; the East York Stauffers is located at 4450 Lincoln Highway in Springettsbury Township.

For more information, go to www.skh.com

Stewartstown Fall Festival

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10

The Stewartstown Fall Festival offers fine arts and crafts, live music, fire engine rides, kids crafts and games, animal learning center, bounce house, truck rodeo, Ravens and Old Bay mascots, great food including pit beef, ham and turkey, Lions Club chicken BBQ and more.

All proceeds raised at the festival go to help the community, specifically the Lions and Lioness Club provides scholarships for local students, helps local families in need and donates food to the local food banks. A portion is retained by Hopwell Area Recreation & Parks Board to put toward improvements to the Community Building and Fairgrounds.

The festival is located at the Stewartstown Community Center Fairgrounds, 16 College Ave., Stewartstown.

For more information, go to www.harp-online.org