(8/27) Fairfield’s 39th Annual Pippinfest is just around the corner, as dates this year are set for September 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A twelve member group from the Fairfield Borough’s Pippinfest Committee spend months planning and organizing this event every year. Organization for the festival typically starts in February, but really kicks in during the month of June, when Committee members begin setting the schedule and organizing vendors.

Dating back to 1980, the Pippinfest festival holds its roots firmly in community togetherness. The festival was started as a way to promote local non-profits, which has been a continued tradition ever since. As a way to bring townspeople together, David Thomas, the owner of Fairfield Inn in 1980, invited local clubs and school groups to participate in a community-wide celebration of the apple harvest. As a small town with a strong sense of community, the citizens of Fairfield were eager to support the idea and an all-day street festival was planned.

Local Boy Scout troops, high school groups, churches and many others are able to sell food, drinks and other goods in order to help raise money for their organization. The Pippinfest brings people into the community, fosters an environment of fun for everyone, and brings neighbors together. Additional funds made during Pippinfest go into a reserve and can be used by the Borough for community enhancement. Within the past few years, funds from this reserve were used to purchase new conference tables and chairs for the Borough Hall office, restoration, framing and matting of the town map, the purchase of a complete Pippinfest pottery collection, and pottery display cases.

Pippinfest 2019 has many events, activities and entertainment planned this year. As always, yard sales, craft and food vendors from all over the region will be set up on Saturday. Additionally, there will be a quilt show with demonstrations by Stitch ‘N Peace from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., a self-guided walking tour of 1860 Fairfield and fun for kids! If you don’t live in Fairfield and would like to set up a yard sale, contact the Fairfield Fire and EMS or the Fairfield Rec Association via Facebook.

Sunday is always the big day at Pippinfest with entertainment from eleven bands, which will be performing from 10:30 - 4:30. Also on Sunday there will be clowns, street entertainment, children’s games, pony rides, and inflatable rides. Antique autos, hot rods, vintage race and muscle cars, street rods, motorcycles and trucks will be on display during the "Cruise-In Car Show and Swap Meet." Take in a bit of local culture and visit the display of Pippinfest Pottery; enjoy a root beer float whose proceeds benefit the local food bank and don’t miss the apple dessert contest back by popular demand! New this year is Colonial Corner; where Colonial/folk art crafters will demonstrate and sell their wares. Children’s’ colonial games, story time and colonial trunk show will also be available. With close to 100 craft and food vendors, no one will go home without having a treat!

For over three decades, Pippinfest, which literally means "apple festival," is still going strong. The festival has grown and offered attendees a memorable weekend full of fun and entertainment for all ages. Volunteers from the local community work year round to bring this event to people all throughout Adams County and even Frederick County. For activity, event times and locations, visit www.pippinfest.com