2013 Johnny Appleseed Festival
Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 9AM to 4PM
About the Festival
Crystal Lake's largest one-day event which brings families and the community together to celebrate Fall. Click here to download this year's Festival Brochure.
Demonstrations and FREE Entertainment!! View and participate in demonstrations of an antique apple cider press and apple peeler, provided by the Crystal Lake Historical Society. There will be music, dance presentations, martial arts demonstrations, storytelling, and so much more! A Clown will be providing balloon art creations in front of Crystal Lake Bank & Trust (70 N. Williams) from 10AM to 1PM. Lots of fun for everyone!
Activities such as children's games, pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin train, pumpkin bowling, temporary tattoos, wagon rides, amusement rides, moonwalk, etc. require tickets. Tickets are $1 each. Two ticket/information booths will be setup (one at the corner of Williams & Brink, and one in the parking lot near most of the activities). Click here for a detailed list of 2012 ticketed activities and the number of tickets required.
Meet and greet Johnny Appleseed himself, as he strolls the streets of downtown, telling his story.
Craft Fair!! A Craft Fair (9AM - 4PM) will be held in Ormsby Motors' parking lot. Dozens of vendors displaying beautifula nd unique handmade items (everything from quilts to painted rocks to jewelry to fabric tote bags to crocheted items to holiday decorations to....well, you get the picture!). Click here for a 2013 Craft Fair Application.
Farmers Market - is located (today only) at the corner of Grant & Brink.
Pie Baking Contest!! Register early, only a limited number of pies will be accepted! Click here for registration information and rules. See pictures below.
Music!! The Beaumonts will be singing and playing at Brink Street Market througout the day. For a rockin' good time, the band Triadd will be performing at the Gazebo in Depot Park from Noon to 3PM.
Here are some photos of the 2011 Johnny Appleseed Festival:
Apple Pie Contests!!
Here are the winners for the 2011 Apple Pie Baking Contest:
1st Place - Andrea DiGangi
2nd Place - Amber Kennett & Andrea LaBelle
3rd Place - Arlene Kopsell
Click here to watch a video of the 2011 Apple Pie Eating Contest. The winners are:
1st Place - John Lee (left)
2nd Place (right) - Josh McGowan
3rd Place (center) - Benjamin Johnson
Scarecrow Decorating contest!! Dozens of scarecrows will adorn the lightpoles in Downtown Crystal Lake. Anyone can participate! The winners for the 2011 Scarecrow Decorating Contest were:
Scariest - O'Grady's Barber Shop
Most Colorful - CLIX
Most Creative - Benedicts La Strata
Most Humorous - Lulu's Wiggin Out
Most Represents Business - BMO Harris Bank
Judge's Choice - Dalzell Jewelers
View photos of the 2011 Scarecrows:
Don't forget to check out the Great Ball Race! Cheer your ball on to victory!
Thousands of people attend the Johnny Appleseed Festival. We hope you'll join us this year!
2012 Johnny Appleseed Festival and Great Ball Race Sponsors: 
Home State Bank - Major Event Sponsor
Northwest Herald - Print Media Sponsor
A Video & Image Company - Video Sponsor
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Black Diamond Plumbing & Electric
Brink Street Restaurant & Bar
Cafe Olympic
CLIX
Countryside Flowershop & Nursery
Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub
L&V Distributors
McHenry County Living Magazine
Ms Bossy Boots
The Player's Bench Music Store
Rotary Club of Crystal Lake