LIMA — Sample all that is fall this weekend when a harvestful bounty of fun opens around the community.
In Lima, it’s the annual Johnny Appleseed Park District’s Apple Festival, going on from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Allen County Farm Park at Slabtown Road and state Route 81.
“This is our biggest festival of the year,” said Chris Fetzer, volunteer coordinator for the Park District. For the last week, park volunteers have been cooking bushels of apples down to make applebutter for school children making trips to the park. This weekend, there are 16 more bushels waiting to be cooked down.
“It has to be done over an open fire in a copper kettle,” Fetzer said.
New this year, the festival will host a mix of different entertainment throughout, ranging from folk performers to children and family entertainers.
“We also have Mr. Puppet here from Columbus on Saturday and a magician on Sunday,” Fetzer said.
Also on the docket are activities, apple-eating and pie-baking contests, rock climbing, outdoor cooking demonstrations and hayrides.
Other festivals include:
• Bluffton’s Fall Festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at five locations around town: Mennonite Memorial Home; Maple Crest Senior Living Village; Main Street; Swiss Homestead; and Suter’s Cider Press and Corn Maze. Park at any location, and free vans or horse and wagon rides will transport to all locations. Events include auctions, a fishing derby, entertainment, kids’ activities, quilt show, Corvette raffle, hog roast, corn cannons, entertainment and lots of food.
• New Bremen Pumpkinfest is today and Saturday at the Crown Pavilion on the banks of the Miami-Erie Canal. Pumpkin events and contests, OSU football, entertainment, artisan showcase, wine tasting.
• Spencerville Park Festival will be held today and Saturday across from the school on Wisher Drive. Along with vendors, there will be inflatable rides, tournaments, and beverage tents.
• Fall Festival at Indian Lake State Park opens at 7 p.m. today and runs through Sunday afternoon. Events include outdoor programs, arts and crafts, chili, cider, dulcimers, pony rides, entertainment. Hay rides shuttle visitors from parking lot to the festival area.
