Four Flags Area Niles Apple Festival starts Thursday and runs through the weekend.

It's the 40th year the festival is going on, and attendees can expect all of their favorite apple memories. But with the 40th annual celebration, guests will get an exciting firework experience as well as some other apple-goodness.

There will be apple goodies throughout all four days, carnival rides, apple-involved contests, a parade and live entertainment.

The event is non-for-profit, so any parking donations go to the committee's service projects throughout the Niles area. But, the event is free to attend.

Thursday's kickoff starts with a bang with wristband day. For $20, guests can purchase a wristband that gets them on all of the carnival rides all day long.

"The people that run the festival, we're all volunteers, but we all love the festival. The community supports us, they love all the people coming in, and, so we get a lot of support from everyone," said Pat Teeter, a festival Board of Directors member. "It's all non for profit; it's all volunteers. Everything that we bring in for the festival goes back into the festival."

The festival starts Thursday at 3pm and runs through Sunday. For more information visit: http://www.fourflagsapplefestival.org/