Jim Williams, who has headed the Core Committee since 1988, attributes the festival’s success to one thing: “It’s the phenomenal spirit of cooperation among the city, the Chamber of Commerce and the volunteers. We know we are blessed with a great location and a beautiful venue, including our two parks. But that’s only the start. The volunteers really drive the event.” Many of the volunteers put their regular jobs on hold for the entire AppleFest week. When you talk to the volunteers, you are taken by how much they enjoy working with each other and doing what they do. They understand what this weekend means to the city and the region. Lynn Cochran, head of the Franklin Chamber, says, “AppleFest’s success is the direct result of the hundreds of volunteers who are willing to do whatever it takes and work together for the good of the event.”

The city workers begin their part at the end of August as they start hanging the banners that announce this year’s event on the city’s bridges and streets. The last week of September work begins on the park itself, sweeping, trimming trees and bushes and getting rid of trash. As Ruditis says of his Streets Department, “From then on everything that isn’t a huge immediate problem gets put on hold. It’s all AppleFest.” It takes the full staff of the Streets Department — six maintenance men and two mechanics — plus other volunteers. And it takes time. Last year the city’s contribution to the event was a remarkable 565 person-hours. The fire and police departments put in plenty of overtime, too, assuring smooth traffic and excellent safety all around town.

Retailer says ‘It’s a second Christmas’

Is it worth it? Niki Volmrich, proprietor of Feldman Jewelers, puts it this way: “For the retail community, it’s a second Christmas. It gives us a chance to show off special merchandise and have special events. Many people who become repeat customers first saw our store and our town during AppleFest.”

Guiseppe Barone, owner of Primo Barone’s Restaurant, says AppleFest is always a great week for his business. His location at the airport doesn’t seem to hurt. “People fly in from out of the area, have a meal, and our van takes them downtown for the festivities and then picks them up when they’re ready to go home.” Barone’s AppleFest connection goes back a ways, too. He was one of the judges at that very first pie-baking content in 1982.

Non-profit organizations also benefit from the crowds that come to the festival. They staff their booths with volunteers and sell items or food or just hand out information and collect donations. The local Cub Scouts have been loyal attendees for many years. The Literacy Council of Venango County takes a different tack. They’ll certainly accept donations, but mostly they offer free books to anyone who wants them, as many as you can carry. “We’re all about reading,” explains Peggy Stroupe, executive director, “so this gives us the chance to give back to the community in a special way. Last year we toted in 75 boxes of books, and only took a handful of books home.”

And on Sunday afternoon, when the last car from the car cruise has rumbled out of town and the city workers are cleaning up the park and the streets for the last time, somewhere not far away the members of the committee will be sitting together, sharing some pizza, and discussing what worked well and what could be improved for next year’s event. For the dedicated people of Franklin, AppleFest is a year-’round job. And that’s why those of us who come just for the weekend want to come back again.

Adomites is a regular contributor to Edge magazine, which is published by The Meadville Tribune. Emlenton-based Adomites specializes in writing about history, food and baseball. He also writes for and directs the Old Time Radio Troupe at Franklin’s Barrow-Civic Theatre.

This story originally appeared in Edge magazine, a publication of The Meadville Tribune. To learn how you can get Edge, call 724-6370.