The annual Issaquah Goes Apples event took place on Oct. 19 at the Historic Shell Station, drawing several hundred people together despite the rain. Pumpkins, scarecrows, hay bales, artwork, vendor booths, tents, farm produce, music and apple-themed cuisine made for a fun fall day.

One vendor booth was the Art by Fire table, which was selling glass-blown pumpkins and apples. Their table was ran by studio manager Brockman Guinee and master glassblower John Ezell, who was selling his own creations and had brought along his 21-month-old son John Jr.

Ezell said he’s been a master glassblower for 19 years, worked at Art by Fire for two and a half years and absolutely loves his craft, especially this time of year. He said his son loves the colors and the fire, too.

“There’s nothing like the warm fall colors on a nice cold day in a hot studio,” he said. “I’m excited to be out sharing this stuff.”

There was also a scarecrow contest, photo ops set up all over town, an apple food contest, live music, the first of a fall Saturday series of Farm Fresh Markets, and the annual Apple Art Competition.

Art competition organizer Ekta Gupta, local artist and art teacher, said they received 48 entries, all following the required apple theme, from artists ages 5 to 70. Some entrants were students from local schools, including Melinda Mohney’s fifth-grade class from Endeavour Elementary, which has participated in all four years of the fair.

The artwork was on display in the Shell station during the fair, and will also be displayed in the Spring Hills Suites Marriott in Issaquah until Nov. 10, Gupta said.

She said she was impressed by all the beautiful artwork that was turned in and was so happy with how the event turned out.

Issaquah Goes Apples is hosted by the Downtown Issaquah Association, which has many “historically hip” events that can be found online at downtownissaquah.com.

Ekta Gupta, local artist and art instructor, posing in front of the submissions to this year’s Apple Art Competition at the Oct. 19 Issaquah Goes Apples fair. Natalie DeFord/staff photo

The rain did not stop the fall fun from happening at the Issaquah Goes Apples fair at the Historic Shell Station on Oct. 19. Natalie DeFord/staff photo