Apple, pumpkin festival helps ill kids

COLTS NECK — This fall, take a step back in time and enjoy the simple life at the Ashley Lauren Foundation's Apple and Pumpkin Festival planned for Nov. 7 (rain date Nov. 14) at Bucks Mill Park, Heyers Mill Road, Colts Neck.

On that day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to watch blacksmith, wooden barrel, quilt making and rug looming demonstrations and enjoy children's games from the 1800's provided by Longstreet Farm and Allaire Village.

Competitors from the tri-state area will be taking part in the Scottish-American Highland Games competition at 10 a.m. Onlookers will have the chance to test their own strength in a stone toss.

For children there will be hay rides, face painting, make your own scarecrow, pumpkin painting, scarecrow walking on stilts and pony rides at this family festival.

Live entertainment will include the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipe and Drum Band, the Isadora Duncan Dance Company from New York City, singer Kayla Calabrese, the Kidz-4-Kidz Performing Arts Group, storytelling by Virginia Amend, Gaelic folk singer Mike Maxwell, the Amazing Arni and Ingrid Magic Show and much more.

Vendors will offer grilled foods, handpressed cider, candy apples, apple and pumpkin ice cream, roasted corn on the cob, funnel cake, old-fashioned kettle korn, and homemade apple and pumpkin foods.

All are welcome to enter the festival's apple pie and pumpkin pie contest. Blue ribbons will be awarded to the winners.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Ashley Lauren Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with cancer and their families.

Homemade craft vendors as well as homemade apple and pumpkin food vendors who are interested in participating may call 732-414-1625 for more information.