SIUC freshman Kelly McComb entered the Miss Applefest Pageant because of the scholarship money she could earn to finance her education, but she also is glad she can help people from other communities enjoy the festival.

McComb, a dental technology major from Murphysboro, is one of 11 contestants competing for the Miss Applefest title Saturday in Murphysboro.

She said pageants usually are a staple of local festivals.

Everybody that has a festival like this has a pageant to represent the festival, she said. Representing your community really shows what your town is like.

The pageant, which has a top prize of a $1,500 scholarship, is just one of more than 20 events that will be at this year’s Murphysboro Apple Festival.

The Miss Applefest Pageant, an offering of the festival’s family entertainment, is 8 p.m. Saturday at the Murphysboro Middle School auditorium, 2125 Spruce St.

This year’s Applefest runs from today until Sunday and is in its 46th year. Applefest executive director Kim Hails said the festival is famous throughout the Heartland, averaging about 46,000 in attendance in the past few years.

Hails said a family theme is stressed throughout the festival.

It’s a family-oriented fun time, she said. We want it to be for everybody.

As an example, Hails said this year’s festival theme, If I Could Wish Upon a Star, comes directly from the minds of grade-school students.

The Murphysboro elementary students send in their theme ideas, she said, and then the Applefest committee votes for the best theme.

Hails said the pageant has been one of the most popular events over the years, and this year is no exception.

There’s a 538-person capacity at the (Murphysboro Middle School) auditorium and there’s not even 100 seats left, she said.

Hails added that the pageant benefits the contestants in addition to providing a fun time for the audience.

It’s a camaraderie event, she said. Also, it’s good for (the contestants) and teaches them how to be out in the eye of the public.

The pageant represents one event in a wide range of entertainment at the festival, and Hails said the entertainment should attract SIUC students.

We have a lot of entertainment going on all the time, she said. We will have music from gospel to rock n’ roll to satisfy everyone.

Hails said the variety of all entertainment, offered rain or shine, surely will have something for everyone attending the festival.

We try to have a little of everything to have a good variety, she said. It gives something for everyone in the family to do.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, today through Sunday

7 a.m. Appletime Prayer Breakfast

5 p.m. Festival Funland opens

6 p.m. Official Apple Festival Opening

11 a.m. Apple Pie & Apple Butter Contest

Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall

6 p.m. Apple Pie Eating Contest

6:30 p.m. Apple Pie Auction Begins

7 p.m. International Apple Peeling Contest

10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Appletime Arts & Crafts Fair

1 p.m. Appletime ProAm Golf Classic

3:30 p.m. Children’s Hobby & Pet Parade

7 p.m. Britt Small & Festival

10 p.m. Boro City Rollers

8 a.m. Appletime 10K Roadrun and 5K Fitness Walk

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Appletime Arts & Crafts Fair

11 a.m. Appletime Grand Parade

1:30 p.m. Country Classic Show

4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Drums at Appletime

8 p.m. Miss Apple Pageant & Appletime Prince & Princess Contest

Murphysboro Middle School auditorium, $6 per person

8 a.m. Appletime Flea Market

Jackson Square shopping center parking lot

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Appletime Grand Car Show

12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Appletime Arts & Crafts Fair

2 p.m. Gospel Music Showcase

4 p.m. Official Apple Festival Closing and Gospel Youth Rally