It’s apple festival time as two Trumbull County communities are holding apple-themed events and activities running today through Sunday.

Hartford Township is celebrating its 55th annual apple festival at the intersection of state Routes 7 and 305, while Lordstown Village is marking the 44th year for its apple cider festival off Salt Springs Road and Tod Avenue.

Both festivals will include family-themed activities and provide an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy time together with apple pie, apple cider and apple dumplings, along with other festival events.

l In Hartford, Trustee Rebecca Whitman, a festival committee member for 35 years, said the event is held in mid-September.

“It’s a full weekend of things for people to do. There will be a fire department water battle, children’s games, a queen’s pageant and parade,” she said.

The free event will kick off 6 p.m. today with a Boy Scout Troop 90 flag-raising ceremony, with the queen ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by the queen dance with music by Bryce Lamancusa 9 to 11 p.m. Amusement rides are from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Saturday will have crafters at 9 a.m., a 5k race 9 a.m., childrem’s bicycle parade at 10:30 a.m., an 11 a.m. pet parade, children’s games at 11:45 a.m., historical society display noon at township hall, children’s tractor pull at 12:30 p.m., magician Gary Morton at 3 p.m., a 6 p.m. parade from Bushnell Campbell Road at Hartford Five Points Road, and music by Radio Pulse at 7:30 p.m. Rides run from noon to midnight.

Sunday will include a nondenominational church service 10:30 a.m.. There will be a firefighter water battle at noon, apple pie eating contest at 2 p.m., a car cruise-in at 1 p.m. in the Hartford United Methodist Church parking lot, Steven Foster Chorus at 2:30 p.m., arm wrestling at 3:30 p.m. with the festival closing at 9 p.m.

l In Lordstown, festival committee members were setting up Wednesday afternoon at the site off Salt Springs Road near Tod Avenue.

Committee member Tom Dietz said the festival brings families out for a fun weekend with amusement rides, contests and Lordstown Lions Club sponsored events, including the apple cider they prepare.

Each day will feature crafts, flowers, photos, quilts and culinary show, bingo, musical entertainment, rides and games.

The festival kicks off today at 6 p.m. with amusement rides by McGinnis Amusements and DJ Dominic Tromboli at the midway 6 to 11 p.m.

Saturday is a car show noon to 3 p.m., free blood pressure checks and eye screening by Lordstown Lions Club noon to 3 p.m., farmers market noon to 5 p.m., Chalk on the Walk 1 p.m., bingo 1 to 8 p.m., festival king and queen pageant 2 p.m., kiddie tractor pull 3 p.m., little prince and princess pageant 3 p.m., Northern Whiskey Band 7 to 11 p.m., fireworks by Zambelli 10 p.m. and closing at midnight.

Sunday is 5K race / walk hosted by Lordstown Athletic Boosters 10 a.m., bingo 1 to 6 p.m., parade along Salt Springs Road with grand marshals Sam and Shirley King at 3 p.m. with performance by Momentum Dance after parade. The midway closes at 9 p.m.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com