ASHLAND — The Ashland County Park District’s annual Cider Days and Craft Show at Sauer’s Farm Park once drew crowds of more than 500 people every fall.
Now in its third year back after a few years off, event coordinator Karen Leonetti believes the event is building back up its audience. She hopes for more than 200 to visit the farm this Saturday, Oct. 26.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sauer’s Farm Park, located at 260 Township Road 1601 in Greenwich. It’ll feature an 100-year-old cider press in action, antique tractors on display and a variety of craft vendors and artisans. Items for sale will include stained glass, dream catchers, woven rugs, photography and slate paintings. Demonstrations will be offered by some vendors.
“We tell people to just bring the family and to expect a fun-filled day. It really is wholesome, family kind of day,” Leonetti said.
Other activities include hay rides, face painting and pumpkin decorating. Guests are also encouraged to walk the park trails.
Leonetti says the “star of the show” is the unique cider press from the late 1800’s. It came to the park in parts and her husband and others pieced it back together.
They ran it for the first time in 2011 as part of the annual farm tour, and later were asked to make it the highlight of a separate event.
“So we filled the barn with artists and crafters and started the apple cider festival,” Leonetti said.
The event stopped in maybe 2015, she estimates, and picked back up in 2017.
This year’s event is held a little later than in the past. The notion was to ensure “fall weather.”
“I think people are more in tune with fall events now,” Leonetti said.
Food will be offered by Pig Foot BBQ and Best Batch Kettle Corn.
Admission is free. The event goes on rain or shine.
