When Haldeman Mansion hosts its annual Fall Festival, the event serves a purpose beyond providing an entertaining day out for families.

"Restoration of the mansion has been ongoing for over 50 years," said Kenneth P. Beard, president of the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society. "This event helps enable the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society to celebrate the significant history of the site and fund upkeep of the building and grounds."

The 19th annual Fall Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19, from noon to 4 p.m. at Haldeman Mansion, 230 Locust Grove Road, Bainbridge.

Activities will take place on the grounds of the historic site as well as inside the building, which was constructed in the late 1700s and was the home of Samuel Haldeman, a renowned 19th-century naturalist.

A variety of entertainment will be featured at the festival, including live music from South Mountain Bluegrass and interactive insect discovery with Dean Evans, who is known as "The Cicada Chaser." Maggie the Cockatoo will be on-site, and several children's activities will be offered. Food and drink options will include Groff's bratwurst, hot dogs, homemade baked beans, chicken corn soup, chili and a variety of desserts for purchase.

"Fresh-pressed apple cider will be available from Bainbridge resident Darl Williams' antique cider press," Beard shared.

The event will also include a lecture at 2 p.m. about Billmeyer, a now-defunct quarry operation and nearby ghost town.

"The lecture is an opportunity to hear the story behind the White Cliffs of Conoy and quarry operation that created it as well as the village - including a store and church - that formerly housed employees," said Beard.

Tours of the mansion will also be offered and will provide opportunities for people to learn more about the site's history.

"The mansion is a 18th-century National Register historic site located within a National Register-listed archaeological district," Beard said. "It sits on a Susquehanna River terrace which provides a view today and was home to documented Native American settlements dating to the 1500s and early 1700s."

People are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to spend the afternoon at the festival. To learn more about the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society, visit http://www.haldeman-mansion.org.