By MICHAEL C. UPTON, Correspondent
The sky is falling in Intercourse.
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At least, that is how it will seem on Saturday as Intercourse Heritage Days introduces a new event: an airplane candy drop.
"It's something to liven things up a little bit and have some fun for the kids," co-organizer Mike Sensenig said. "A lot of the events are kid friendly. It is very much a family thing."
The candy drop is one of many activities planned for the fifth annual event, to be held Friday through Sunday at Intercourse Community Park.
Marlin Horst will fly his Piper Super Cub across the skies over the park at noon Saturday, dropping a load of sweets into a designated landing zone. From there it is a mad dash as kids rush to collect as much candy as they can.
"It's a modern day peanut scramble," Horst said. "It's a lot of fun; the kids love it."
Horst said the Super Cub can hold up to 50 pounds of candy. Banking on his years of experience, Horst assures parents the candy is not dangerous and he and fellow fliers never try to hit the children with the candy.
"We make passes over the field and we drop candy where the kids aren't," Horst said. "Then we come back and drop again where the kids aren't, so they have to run to pick it up."
Candy won't be the only thing drifting down from the sky Saturday — a skydiver with a banner will descend on the park at 6:45 p.m.
"The skydiver drops in just in the middle of the (Churchmen) concert," Sensenig said. "It's amazing, especially how the kids flock around him when he lands."
Back by popular demand, the Churchmen, an acclaimed gospel bluegrass group from Collinsville, Va., will perform from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Other Saturday events include helicopter rides from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a fireworks display beginning at dusk.
Heritage Days officially kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with the Taste of Intercourse food showcase. Local restaurants and eateries will celebrate the flavors of Lancaster County.
The foodie's highlight is sure to be the second annual shoofly pie baking contest. Contestants can preregister for the competition; there is no fee. Pies are due to the judges' stand by 5:30 p.m. and judging begins at 7 p.m.
"It's pretty laid back, pretty informal," Sensenig said. "Just make a shoofly pie and (the judges) will see how it tastes."
As for the judges, Sensenig said the lucky tasters will be three members of the community.
"That's a great job," Sensenig admits. "We have people waiting in line for that job."
After all the food and desserts, visitors can work off the extra pounds by dancing into the evening with the Sunnyside Bluegrass Band. The band will take the stage from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Other events Friday and Saturday include tug-o-war and volleyball competitions, a spelling bee, pedal tractor pulls, pony rides and gingerbread cookie decorating.
A worship service, covered dish and ice cream social are planned for Sunday.
"Just about all of the events are free," Sensenig said. "You can come out and not spend a lot of money and have a really good time."
For more information and a complete list of events and times, visit
www.intercourseheritagedays.com and click on "scheduled events."
For information about the shoofly pie contest, contact Ellen Rumpf at 768-7166 or
ebrumpf@frontiernet.net.
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