FALL FESTIVAL TIME — Many have turned out each year for the Wellsburg Applefest, which will return this weekend with a variety of food and other vendors, entertainment and activities for youth. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The Wellsburg Applefest will return Friday through Sunday with a variety of food and other vendors, activities and entertainment.

In its 45th year, the street fair has drawn hundreds of visitors to Charles Street and the Wellsburg Town Square.

Ernie Jack, who co-chairs the festival’s volunteer committee with Frank Johnson, said the group has taken pride in it being a family-friendly event with free or affordable activities for youth.

He said a contribution from Brownlee Lumber has allowed them to keep admission low for the amusement rides on Seventh Street.

Jack added Traubert’s Pharmacy and Main Street Bank have sponsored the miniature train rides and face painting booth, respectively, allowing both to be offered at no cost.

In recent years, the group has made free booth space available on the Town Square for young vendors 15 and under, on Saturday.

Jack said the tables may be staffed by youth-oriented groups or simply children and teens interested in selling items to make some money.

The intention is to give youth the opportunity to learn about salesmanship firsthand, he said, and adults are welcome to assist at 8 a.m. that day with setting up their own tables but should allow the young vendors to take over when they open at 9 a.m.

Application forms can be found at https://wellsburgapplefest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/kids-kids-kids.pdf. Those with questions can call (304) 737-1599.

The Brooke County Public Library will once again hold a pumpkin decorating contest for youth in preschool through eighth grade.

To request a free pumpkin and bag of decorative materials, call (304) 737-1551 or visit https://brookecountylibs.org/events.

Those who want to participate in the contest should bring their decorated pumpkins to the libraries’ booth on the Town Square between 11 a.m. and noon Saturday.

There also will be a pumpkin carving contest there at 2 p.m. Saturday. Children will be provided safety knives, which they may use to carve pumpkins provided by the Applefest Committee with the help of adults.

The Town Square will serve as stage for an assortment of performers, with Friday’s lineup to include country singer Matt Van Fossen from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., vocalist-keyboardist Marvin Whiteman from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and singer-guitarist Shawn Villamagna from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The entertainment schedule for Saturday includes classic 1970s rock and roll by Dan Stewart at 1 p.m., Elvis tribute artist Robert Dale at 2 p.m., singer-guitarist Mark Henderson at 3 p.m., Johnna Leary, a Brooke High School alumna who has appeared in television, film and theater, at 4 p.m.; members of the Brooke County Arts Council behind Brooke Hills Playhouse from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and singer-songwriter Daniel Kurtz from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday’s festivities will include chain saw carving by Jeff Roscoe beginning at 11 a.m. on Seventh Street and the crowning of the Wellsburg Applefest Queen, determined through a pageant held earlier, at noon on the square.

Sunday’s schedule includes performances by students of Dance by Hillary at 1 p.m., the Brooke High School Dance Team at 2 p.m., the Brenda Casey Dancers at 3 p.m. and rock group Refugee from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

There also will be an apple pie contest on Sunday. Participants should bring their pies to the square at noon, with judging to begin at 1 p.m.

Apple-related treats, including apple cider and apple butter, have been among the assorted food sold during the Applefest. This year, the Wellsburg Elks Lodge will be selling apple dumplings with ice cream and toppings in front of their lodge on Charles Street.

The festival was inspired by the discovery of the Grimes Golden apple at Thomas Grimes’ farm on Washington Pike in 1832

The seeds for that variety of the fruit are said to have been provided by Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman. While he’s come to be seen as a legendary figure, Chapman was a real person known for planting apple trees in five states and Ontario while sharing the Christian gospel.

The late Michael O’Brien, who was Applefest co-chairman for many years, was known for appearing as Chapman at the event. His costume and a Johnny Appleseed nutcracker created by the Nelson family behind Steubenville’s Nutcracker Village will be displayed at the Brooke County Historical Museum and Cultural Center during the Applefest.

Located at 704 Charles St., the museum will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.