Kimmswick is ready for tens of thousands of people to descend on the small Mississippi River town for its annual Apple Butter Festival this weekend, Mayor Phil Stang said.
“I always say we are good at two things, flood prevention and the logistics of safely hosting a large group of people,” he said. “I am looking forward to the Apple Butter Festival because it will not be a flood of water but rather a flood of people.”
The Apple Butter Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28-29. No admission fee is charged to attend the event, which will include hundreds of vendors, music, food and, of course, the Kimmswick Historical Society’s famous apple butter.
City officials said about 120,000 people turned out over last year’s two-day Apple Butter Festival, which raised more than $87,000 for Kimmswick. The annual Apple Butter and Strawberry festivals make up about 80 percent of the town’s budget, town officials have reported.
Apple butter
The Historical Society pays a company to make most of the apple butter sold at the event, but society members make one big pot of the sweet treat each day of the event. Festivalgoers are encouraged to stop by the Apple Butter Shed on Market Street.
“People like to see them stir the apple butter,” Stang said. “(Historical Society members) are amenable to have someone carefully give it a stir so they can say they participated in the apple butter making.”
Demonstrations, exhibits
Turtle Ridge woodcarvers and Son of a Buck Blacksmithing will show off their skills on Third Street each day of the festival, Stang said.
“They have been very popular over the last few years,” he said. “I’m very happy they are returning, and so are other people.”
Music
Andrew Dahle, a musician, will perform original songs and covers of popular music throughout Saturday near City Hall, Stang said.
In addition, the Array Band is expected to perform on Saturday, and the Exit 180 band is scheduled to perform on Sunday, both on the Elm Street stage.
“It gives a festive atmosphere,” Stang said of the live music.
“There is a portion of people who attend who really enjoy listening to the music while they get something to eat or drink.”
Children’s activities
Children will have the chance to enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides and bounce houses. Stang said entry into the petting zoo will cost $4 a child, who may be accompanied by an adult for free, and it will cost $1 for a feed cup.
He said pony rides cost $10, and children will be charged $5 for 15 minutes in the bounce houses provided by Jumping Joy.
“It gives kids an opportunity to have fun, and the parents get a break from walking around,” Stang said. “I think the parents enjoy watching their kids have fun.”
Parking
Roads leading into Kimmswick will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the festival. Limited handicap-accessible parking will be available at Windsor Elementary School on Sixth Street in Kimmswick.
Parking also will be available on fields along Hwy. K, weather permitting, or festivalgoers may park on the Windsor School District campus, 6208 Hwy. 61-67, in Imperial and ride a shuttle into town. It will cost $5 fee to park at the Windsor campus with the proceeds going to the district’s band program.
“We advise people to park at Windsor and take the buses,” Stang said. “That is the most convenient way to come, and we have refined it over the years.”
Food, drink, booths
An array of food will be offered, such as barbecue, fish, shish kebabs, funnel cakes and blooming onions, as well as Greek, Columbian, Chinese and Thai foods and more, Stang said.
“We will have all of the usual food that people love,” he said.
Stang said about 400 vendors are expected to be at the festival.
A map of major attractions is available on Kimmswick’s website, cityofkimmswick.org. For more information, call City Hall at 636-464-7407 or go to the town’s website.