Applefest

Applefest 2024:

Friday – Sunday, October 11 – 13

Mahaffey Camp Applefest is an annual fall festival held at Mahaffey Camp.  It is a cherished tradition among Mahaffey Campers, a highlight of the autumn season for many.

Applefest is a time of fellowship, fun, and celebration.  Some of the activities that take place are campfire time, a steam train demo, a cornhole tournament, wagon rides, a scarecrow decorating contest, a benefit auction, live music and entertainment, and the “Anything Edible” Apple Baking Contest.  Activities are available for children, including games and crafts.  Several family events are held throughout the weekend.  On Saturday, a Food Truck Festival and Crafters’ & Artisans’ Fair will take place.

At Applefest, friends and family enjoy warm apple cider and homemade apple butter together, while spending quality time in fellowship with one another.  Applefest is held annually in the beginning of October.  Come celebrate the fall season with us at Mahaffey Camp Applefest!

THANK YOU to our 2024 Applefest Sponsors:

H & H Hardware (Clearfield, PA)

Special Events at Applefest

Cornhole Tournament

Come play in our annual Cornhole Tournament! Register as an individual or a two-person team. Double-elimination tournament; prizes awarded to the top three finishing teams. Spectators welcome! Registration cost is $15/individual or $20/team if registered by October 8. Walk-in registrations (after October 8) are $20/individual or $30/team.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Bring your creativity and decorate your very own scarecrow! Wooden frames are provided; participants must bring all other supplies needed. Judging will take place at 11:30. Information and registration forms can be picked up at the Camp Info Table near the Camp Office on Saturday.

Resin Craft Activity

Date: Friday, October 11

Location: Dining Hall

Cost: $35/person

Join us for an exciting and memorable crafting experience! Come make a beautiful piece of resin art, perfect for decorating your home or cottage for fall. No prior experience is necessary. All instruction will be given by Corie Hartsock of The Painting Broad (Philipsburg, PA). All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit our year-round ministries!

Registration is now closed for this event. Call the camp office at (814) 277-5544 to be put on the waiting list.

“Anything Apple” Baking Contest

Enter a homemade apple dessert in our “Anything Apple” baking contest! Entries are judged based on appearance, taste, and creativity. There are two categories for the contest: participants under 18 and over 18. All contest entries will be auctioned off after judging, as a fundraiser for the camp’s ministries.

Donations are also welcome! To donate a baked good for the auction, bring it to the camp info table labeled “auction donation.” Thank you!

Children’s Art Show

Kids and teens: enter your original apple-themed artwork in our Children’s Art Show! Artwork can be 2D or 3D in a medium of your choice; no size limitation. Drop-off times are Friday, October 11 (6-7 PM) and Saturday, October 12 (9-10 AM). Categories include ages 6 & under, 7-11, 12-18, and new in 2024: Family. Prizes will be awarded by 4 PM on Saturday.

The Chili Cook-Off has been CANCELLED for 2024.

Sunday Morning Outdoor Service

Worship led by R.H.O.D.E.S.

R.H.O.D.E.S stand for Reverently Honoring Our Divine Eternal Savior and that’s the heart behind everything we do. We’re comprised of:
Drew Stodart – lead singer and guitarist

Maria McDonald – vocals

Lillian Neff – keyboard and vocals

Doug Aughenbaugh – drums

We’re dedicated to creating music that honors and glorifies God. We provide a blend of original songs focused on honest lyrics that aim to inspire and uplift, with a variety of worship covers to encourage people to praise and worship the Lord. Our desire is to reach people for Jesus, offering messages of hope, redemption, and the freedom found in Christ. We believe that in sharing these stories through our music, we can inspire others to find hope and a deeper connection with God.


Reserve Lodging at Applefest

Need a place to stay during Applefest? We have Dorm 5 rooms and RV sites available. Fill out the form at the link below to make your reservation.


Auction Donations

We are now accepting items for the Applefest Benefit Auction.

Donations can be brought to the Camp Office any day during office hours, or to the auction area prior to 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 11. We accept new or gently used items; no clothing or large electronics (TVs, computers, etc.) can be accepted. Thank you for your support!

Support our ministries by making an Auction Basket! Making an auction basket can be a fun project for your family, group, or business that will benefit the camp. Baskets can be creatively themed (movie night, gardening supplies, baking supplies, etc.), and when auctioned off, they’ll help us raise funds for our year-round programming. Businesses can also support us by providing a gift card or other donation for the auction – call the camp office for details at (814) 277-5544.


Promotional Materials


Food & Craft Vendors

FOOD & CRAFT VENDOR SPOTS ARE NOW FULL. Contact the Camp Office at (814) 277-5544 to be put on the waiting list.

We are excited to welcome the following Artisans and Food Vendors to Applefest 2024:

  • The Soapy Goat
  • Sew Many Keepsakes
  • Lone Wolf Candles
  • Alyson Reitz Stained Glass
  • Just Peachy
  • Our Road to Emmaus
  • Pottery by Beverly
  • Fantasia Fantasy Faces & More
  • Clinger’s Maple Syrup
  • Micky Doodle
  • LS Handcrafted
  • Benvenuta Coffee
  • Tiff’s Wreaths and More
  • Are’s Custom Baskets
  • Ridge Runner Apiaries
  • Licari Boutique
  • Rebecca Serafin Cards
  • The Chuck Wagon
  • Groundhog Grindz
  • Leila Jo’s Cafe & Bakery
  • Soups by Jenn


Become a Sponsor

There is no admittance fee to Applefest; it is our goal that this event provides a Christ-centered outreach opportunity to our community and beyond. However, there are many costs associated with hosting this event. Sponsorships allow us to provide high-quality programming at this outreach, so that families and friends can enjoy a beautiful day of fellowship.

We invite businesses, churches, groups, or even individuals/families to prayerfully consider becoming a sponsor of Applefest. As a thank you, your logo will be posted on our website, and also posted on our sponsorship board during the event. Anonymous donations are also welcome. Thank you for your support!