If the weather forecast turns out to be true, this year’s Apple Butter Festival may set a record for people coming to Kimmswick, said Mayor Kenny Kraft.
“It may be one of the best weekends we have ever had,” Kraft said. “They are saying it is going to be 75 degrees both days. I have had a few people say, ‘If that is the weather, we will have record days.’”
The 49th annual Apple Butter Festival is scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
No admission is charged to attend the event, which will have more than 300 vendors, music performances, and, of course, the Kimmswick Historical Society’s famous apple butter.
Approximately 120,000 people came to Kimmswick for last year’s two-day festival, when the second day was cut short due to inclement weather.
“We are looking forward to this,” said Jennifer Kraft, Kenny Kraft’s wife and the Apple Butter Festival event coordinator. “It is going to be beautiful weather.”
The Apple Butter Festival and Strawberry Festival, which is held in June, make up about 80 percent of the town’s budget, according to Kimmswick officials.
Kenny Kraft said the town’s shops and restaurants also will be open throughout the weekend.
Historical Society member Becky Hagan said there will be about 5,000 jars of apple butter for sale throughout the festival. Jars cost $6 each.
“We have not raised our price,” she said. “We ask for cash or check. We still don’t take credit cards. We are kind of old fashion.”
Attractions
Along with shopping, people may also pay for a few different experiences while at the festival.
Ellie Mae’s Menagerie will offer people an interactive experience with kangaroos for a fee, and the National Irish Wolfhound Association will have wolfhounds for people to interact with for a fee during the event.
Jennifer Kraft said there will be at least four face painters set up around town, and a Henna tattoo artist will be available throughout the weekend.
There will be plenty of musical performances at Kimmswick City Park and Veterans Park.
On Saturday, the 1st Things First band will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Park, and the Rocky Martin Music Duo is scheduled to perform from 2-4:30 p.m. at the park.
In Veterans Park, the AMF Duo will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and The Wings of Eagles will perform from 2-5 p.m.
On Sunday, the AMF Duo returns to perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Park, followed by a performance by the Rocky Martin Music Duo from 2-4:30 p.m. The Hammerhead band is scheduled to perform from 2-5 p.m. at Veterans Park.
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 C-1 School District campus, 6208 Hwy. 61-67, in Imperial and ride a shuttle into town. It will cost $10 to park on the fields or the Windsor campus.
For more information, call City Hall at 636-464-7407 or visit gokimmswick.com or cityofkimmswick.org.