By Blake McWilliams and Becca Persinger

Toddlers excitedly tugging at their exhausted parent’s hands toward the next booth that comes into sight, apples littering every table in the premises, the smell of the traditional dumpling delicacy wafting through the air to the delight of festival attendees- all these describe the annual Appleknocker event, which will be taking place this Saturday, September 28.

Flora High School will be hosting the festival, and the fun will start with the Appleknocker 5K run at 8:30 a.m. Registration for the run will start at 8:00 a.m., and there will be free T-shirts for the competitors. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the race.

The Flora High School band will be kicking off the event with a few patriotic songs.

 Booths will be open for business as soon as 10:00 a.m. rolls around. There will be booths that offer kid’s games such as a mach grocery store, face painting, bobbing for apples and more. Some FHS clubs will also setting up shop at the event, including National Honor Society with a finger painting booth, Drama Club with a photo booth, FCCLA with a hand painting booth and Science Club with a make your own bird feeder booth.

The entertainment of the day will be the Jessie White Tumblers, Kohak Dancers, Fred’s Feathered Friends Bird Show, an Abraham Lincoln Impersonator, Shooting Stars Drill, DAS-zle Dance and Tumble, Power and Grace Tumblers, Breakaway Band, DTD Drumline and more.

There will be inflatables, and the local Boy Scout troop will be helping kids cross their rope bridge. Walking around the grounds for the entire day will be a stilt walker, Krazy Klowns, a One Man Band and a mime.

Appleknocker is famous for the amount and variety of food that the vendors serve. Foods like BBQ sandwiches, apple dumplings, pizza, taco in a bag, pork burgers and much more. The traditional desserts that are served at Appleknocker include the apple dumplings, fried Oreos, caramel apples and more.

There will also be an abundance of refreshments. Shake ups, water and soda will all be available to purchase. All food and drink will be sold for around three to six tickets. Games will only cost one or two tickets, and the apple dumplings are going to be sold for seven tickets. Tickets are going to be sold for fifty cents, and there will be multiple stands offering tickets.

FHS students are welcome to volunteer to work with some of the clubs that will be having booths at the event. The hours they work will go toward their mandatory ten hours that each student needs to graduate. For more information about community service, visit Bobby McNeely’s office in Guidance.