Fall Time Means It's Apple Time In Lincoln

LINCOLN -- Downtown Lincoln Square comes alive with music, craft booths, concessions and thousands of people the first weekend of October.

The 41st Arkansas Apple Festival set for Sept. 28-Oct. 2 will start at 9 a.m. Friday with the opening of arts and crafts booths. Live music is featured in the afternoon. A choir performance will be held at 1 p.m., followed by dulcimer music at 2:30 p.m.

Rhonda Hulse, co-chairwoman, said the Apple Festival will have a full house of vendors and concessions, as has been the case in past years.

Last year, record crowds came out to enjoy the festival, which was aided by perfect weather -- blue skies and mild temperatures. As long as the weather holds out, Hulse expects attendance to be about the same this year.

The weekend has something to offer all ages. The annual parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. Children can participate in an apple-core throwing contest and play on inflatables and other rides offered along the Square. An annual talent show starts at 6 p.m. Saturday

Adults can browse and shop craft booths or bring a chair to sit, relax and enjoy different genres of music.

Visitors also can take their pick of food choices. Festival food this year will include funnel cakes, cornbread and beans, homemade apple dumplings, barbecue, hamburgers and kettle corn.

Of course, the focus of the festival is apples and the Arkansas Apple Festival pays tribute to the industry that once dominated western Washington County. The early revolution of Lincoln is directly related to the growth and success of orchards in the area.

The Apple Festival brochure describes the importance of apples to Lincoln this way: "It has been said by many that apples made the town."

The festival provides the opportunity for Lincoln to remember its history and keep its history alive.

Volunteers will spend many hours slicing fresh apples to hand out free samples to visitors at the Festival. Look for the red and white striped tent.

Lincoln Freemasons will have bags of apples for sale. Proceeds from the sale help pay for a Lincoln High School scholarship. City Council members also will help with selling apples and their proceeds benefit Christmas on the Square.

In another booth, small cups of apple cider are given out. If you like the sample, apple cider is available to purchase.

Hulse said the Apple Festival is a wonderful tradition for the town.

"It's an event that the residents of Lincoln and the surrounding area looks forward to each year," Hulse said. "I have been honored to be in charge of all the Arts and Crafts for the festival for the past nine years and this year along with Tracey Irwin we both are Co-Chairs of the festival. Even though it's a lot of work I absolutely love keeping this tradition alive. The festival would not be possible without the Apple Festival Committee and the City of Lincoln's support."

Russ Laycox, a former committee chairman, has been involved with the festival since the beginning in 1976. He and his wife coordinated the festival pageant for 25 years.

"The festival has never been about one person. It's always a team effort," Laycox said.

At one point in the early years, Laycox said, it was not assured the festival would be able to continue but it did.

He believes it has continued to grow over the years because of the willingness and desire of the community to provide a good family experience for the Lincoln area and visitors from throughout the state.

"Our history is always going to be our history," Laycox said. "That's not going to change. We want to keep it alive."