MONMOUTH — The 25th AppleFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, on the Monmouth Museum grounds.

The last Saturday in September has become the date of a town wide gathering and celebration, and an important fundraising event for the museum.Trustees gratefully thank local businesses and apple growers who have given time and money to support this event.

AppleFest volunteers have organized numerous family activities, many of which are free, including all-day children’s activities, Bake-Off contest, barrel car rides, cider pressing and sipping, displays inside and out, red balloons, horse-drawn wagon rides (small fee for adults) and a pie-eating contest.

Events with fees include an apple cart with apples for sale by the pound, apple pie slices with cheese or ice cream at Apple Pie Café, locally handcrafted items on a raffle table, lunch and snacks, soup (no meat) at Apple Pie Café if the weather is cool, 25th Anniversary Quilt Raffle tickets, whole apple pies for sale and vendors’ demonstrations.

Bake-Off Contest

The second annual AppleFest Bake-Off Contest will feature apple bread. Complete contest rules are available at Cumston Public Library during library hours and at Monmouth Museum’s Country Store Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Carla Quinlivan, event chairperson, at 207-446-2601.

All entries must be registered and dropped off before 9 a.m. on the 28th at the museum. Each recipe will be judged and the remaining pieces may be sold to the public to raise money for the museum. The main ingredients are the apple, of course. No store bought pastries, mixes, fillings, icings, decorations, in disposable pans or dishes.

Winners will be announced at 11 a.m. at the museum. Judging criteria will be overall appearance and flavor. There is an entry fee of $2 per entry. Prizes are: first, $25; second, $15; and third, $10.

5th annual AppleFest 5k Run, Jog, and Walk

The Friends of Cumston Hall will present their 5th annual AppleFest 5k starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. This fun run, jog or walk is presented as a part of the Monmouth Museum’s Apple Festival in downtown Monmouth. More than 125 runners are expected.

The 5k course starts and finishes at Cumston Hall and takes runners on a trip around Monmouth. The race is professionally chip timed to ensure accuracy.

Medals are awarded in nine different categories to the first and second male and female finishers. Overall male and female winners receive champion trophies and everyone who attends the awards ceremony is eligible to win door prizes.

Preregistration costs $18 and is available at www.runreg.com, KEYWORD: Cumston. Registration forms are also available at the Cumston Public Library or by emailing [email protected]. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m. and costs $25.

For more information call 207-577-4919.