Poole Forge Day, featuring children's activities, food, crafts, live music, pony rides, goat races, a volleyball tournament and more, will take place at Historic Poole Forge, 1940 Main St., Narvon, on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

The day will begin at the picnic pavilion, where there will be a presentation by the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center. The program will feature live animals, including reptiles and a raptor show with hawks and owls. Arts and crafts will also be available for children in the pavilion, including twig art, where children can make crafts using items from nature.

The popular goat races will take place in the afternoon. "The goats and their owners will travel through an obstacle course this year," noted Dawn Ekdahl, Poole Forge executive director. "It's very cute. Each of the goats has its own personality."

There will also be a turtle race in the afternoon. Visitors who "purchase" green rubber turtles that will float down the Conestoga Creek will be in the running for prizes. "The first turtle across the line gets the grand prize," noted Eckdahl. There will also smaller prices for the other top finishers.

A daylong Amish youth volleyball tournament will take place in the ballfield and meadow across the creek. "This is not just local Amish youth; they are coming from a couple of hours away," noted Ekdahl. "It's a serious competition."

The Penn's Woods Puppet Theater will present three shows of "Jack and the Beanstalk" throughout the course of the day, and pony rides will be offered for children alongside the covered bridge. There will also be barrel train rides.

A Gruber wagon will be on display, as well as antique brass cars that will be exhibited by members of the Susquehanna Valley Region of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. "They will arrive around 10 a.m. and parade through the park around noon. They will cross the covered bridge," said Ekdahl.

The Lancaster Spinners and Weavers Guild will offer demonstrations throughout the day. "They plan on doing a sheep-to-shawl program to practice for the Farm Show," Ekdahl noted.

There will be a silent auction, with goods and gift certificates donated by local businesses.

The 18th-century Welsh ironmaster's mansion will be open for tours, and live music will be offered throughout the day on the porch. Also featured will be a parade of pony carts, a pet parade and a fireman's exhibit. DJ Jay Mattson will provide music.

Offering food and beverages will be the Caernarvon Ladies Auxiliary Food Wagon, Lickity Split Ice Cream, Sunrise Coffee Company and The Pretzel Place.

The day will end with an airplane candy drop. "That was so much fun (in 2019)," said Ekdahl, noting that 2020 Poole Forge Day was canceled because of the pandemic. "We had great weather the whole day, and at the end of the day there was rain threatening. (The pilot) ended up doing the candy drop in the light rain. It was raining candy from the sky. It was a great way to end the day."

For more information about Poole Forge Day, visit http://www.historicpooleforge.org or http://www.facebook.com/HistoricPooleForge or call 484-797-5302.