One of my favorite things to do in the month of October is to come back to my home area of Franklin to enjoy its weekend-long Applefest. Franklin has a lot of things to celebrate. I want to know why they chose the apple.

It's a special time of year in Franklin when Applefest rolls around. People come from far and wide to attend this apple-themed celebration. Everywhere you look there's apples. Free individual apples for the taking. Baskets of apples for sale. Apple pie. Apple butter. Apples, apples, apples. So, why does Franklin center its wonderful festival around the apple? I asked Jim Williams, who has served as a board member for the event for 38 years.

"In 1982, a local resident thought it would be a good idea to honor Johnny Appleseed because Johnny Appleseed supposedly came through this area. She wanted to start some sort of apple event,” answered Jim.

Oh yes. Johnny Appleseed. The larger-than-life figure who roamed the countryside planting apple seeds everywhere he went. An historical marker declares that Johnny Appleseed lived in the Franklin area between 1797 and 1804 before he moved on to Ohio. He planted his apple seeds mainly along French Creek near where the historical marker is located.

"I don't know if he had any family connection here or why this area attracted him,” says Bessie Nolf, Director of the Venango County Historical Society.

Johnny Appleseed probably did not realize then the impact he would have on Franklin. The Applefest celebration, inspired by him, has become a big economic boon to the city. It attracts an estimated 100,000 people to the downtown area every year.

"Being a businessman in town, this is huge for business. One of the best events in our area,” says Bill Weller, an Applefest board member for 31 years.

Mike Dulaney is chairman of this year’s celebration, Applefest 41.

"If you go to any one of these businesses, they'll tell you that these three days will do more for them than a whole month during the holiday season. So it really keeps us going,” says Mike.

Jodi Lewis is the executive director of the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, the sponsor of Applefest. She showed me a special section among the many, many vendors.

"This whole row is non-profit row,: she said. “They're all set up and they get to make a little extra money this weekend too."

In its 41 years, Applefest has grown from a two-day pie judging contest to the extravaganza it is today. And it all started to honor a man who planted apple seeds.

Applefest in Franklin was held last weekend with beautiful weather and wonderful attendance. It was the 41st celebration of Applefest. The festival was celed one year due to COV