Apple Festival set to return this weekend

The 44th Annual Ruthven Apple Festival is set to get back to tradition in many ways on the weekend of September 29-30 and October 1.

The popular festival has been done virtually for the past three years, so organizers and festival goers alike are looking forward to the return to the friendly grounds of Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens.

The Apple Festival is steeped in tradition and has a great following in this area, with about 120 craft and merchandise vendors expected the fill the grounds for the weekend, with about nine food vendors set to satiate the appetites of thousands of patrons.

Speaking of tradition, be sure to visit the Momma Bear’s Pie Booth at this year’s festival. Here’s their story:

When Dawn Dupuis of Essex was eight years old, she began volunteering and lending a helping hand with her grandmother. Little did she know that experience would one day come full circle. You see, Dawn’s grandmother was Jean Myles, a Community Living Essex County volunteer who for nearly 40 years dedicated herself to supporting and enhancing the opportunities and quality of life for people with an intellectual disability.  

From serving as President of the Ladies Auxiliary, to her work as a Special Director to the Board of Directors, Jean’s tireless efforts touched the lives of many.  

For nearly 20 years, Jean served as Chair of the Ruthven Apple Festival’s popular Farmers’ Market. As a child, Dawn would help her Grandma Myles at the festival, displaying fresh produce and lending a hand wherever needed.  

In fact, Grandma Myles encouraged Dawn to develop her own apple pie recipe and with help from her mom that pie took first place at the festival when she was just 12 years old. 

It’s only fitting now that Dawn uses that same apple pie recipe at her Momma Bear’s Bakery in Kingsville. While carrying on her Grandma Myles’ spirit of giving back, be sure to visit Dawn at this year’s Ruthven Apple Festival (Sept 30-Oct 1) as she serves up her award-winning Apple Pie at the festival’s Momma Bear’s Bakery Pie Booth. 

For Tony DeSantis, Community Relations Manager for Community Living Essex County, the return of the physical festival is a welcome event, despite all of the hard work and hours of preparation.

“We’re going back to tradition,” he says. “It will be busy so we’re asking everyone for their patience.”

DeSantis says that parking will be reduced from previous festivals as the property across Road 3 from Colasanti’s is now a greenhouse operation.

“We’ve got some great new volunteers who are excited to be part of this,” he added. “Some of them remember being part of the festivities when they were little kids.”

The committee’s biggest struggle has been to deal with ever-rising costs and they’ve implemented a donation bin at the entrance to help offset some of those costs.

De Santis says that although it’s still free to get in, they are asking for donations at the gate.

“Everything has gone up,” he says. “From porta-johns to tents to security and many other things,” he says.

DeSantis says they have plenty of room — and need — for volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer for this worthy cause, visit communitylivingessex.org.

The popular apple peeling contest between local dignitaries will return to an on-site competition and there will be a classic car show on Sunday and a farmer’s market will be open all weekend. Live local entertainment will be playing throughout the weekend as well.

Whatever your interest, there is something at the Apple Frest to “a-peel” to everyone.