Kimmswick’s streets and parks will be filled this weekend with people looking for interesting shopping opportunities; food and beverages to taste; and fun activities and music to enjoy.
The annual Apple Butter Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
No admission is charged to attend the event, which will feature more than 400 vendors, music performances and, of course, the Kimmswick Historical Society’s famous apple butter.
“There are a lot of new vendors and activities and lots of food,” City Administrator Sarah Mesnage said. “We hope to fill the streets.”
Town officials said approximately 150,000 people attended last year’s festival, which raised more than $100,000 for Kimmswick. 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.
Mesnage said about 50,000 people attended the Strawberry Festival in June, and Kimmswick raised about $70,000 from that festival.
“It is immensely important for us that these are successful events,” Mesnage said of the Apple Butter and Strawberry festivals. “It is important that we bring things in that keep people wanting to come back. It is important to maintain this revenue source for us.”
Apple Butter
The Kimmswick Historical Society will have about 5,000 jars of Apple Butter for sale throughout the festival, said Diane Nagy, the organization’s president.
Jars cost $6 each.
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 to view the product being made and even stir the kettle a few times.
“We usually get about 250 to 260 jars out of each kettle,” Nagy said.
The Historical Society also will sell an Apple Butter cookbook for $10 each, Nagy said. After the festival, the cookbooks are available at the Kimmswick Historical Society museum, 6000 Third Ave. The museum is open from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Shopping
Many of the town’s businesses and restaurants will remain open during the festival, and vendors will be set up around town selling a variety of items, like wood crafts, candles, soaps, jewelry, dog treats, clothing, home and outdoor decor and more.
“We have a lot of new vendors this year,” she said.
Mesnage said more than 50 food vendors are expected at the two-day festival.
“We really tried to make sure there was a variety,” she said. “We have Jamaican, Asian, Cajun, Mexican, barbecue and other food offerings.”
Activities
People will also have the chance to try out a variety of activities at the festival.
The BirdiePop Co. will set up a virtual golf simulator on the basketball court at Kimmswick City Park, and Hearts with Hooves will offer horse rides at City Park.
Mesnage said 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.
There will also be blacksmith demonstrations by Son of a Buck Blacksmithing and log splitting demonstrations throughout the weekend.
“We are bringing in some new activities and attractions that are a little different than before,” Mesnage said. “We are excited for them, and we hope people enjoy them.”
Music
Mesnage said T-Mobile will play music near tables set up at the corner of Elm and Second streets. She said music also will be played at the field near City Hall, and live performances are scheduled to be held at the Veterans and City parks.
On Saturday, the AMF duo is scheduled to perform from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by the Grass Roots from 2-4:30 p.m., both at the City Park. Wings of Eagles is slated to play from noon to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park.
On Sunday, the Brad Allan Band will play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wings of Eagles will perform from 2-5 p.m., both at Veterans Park, and the Rocky Martin Duo will play form 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and AMF will perform from 2-4:30 p.m., both at City Park.
“The bands definitely add to the festival,” Mesnage said. “We love having them because people stick around and enjoy them, socialize and do more than just shop.”
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.
“We added more gravel to our ballfield to extend our handicap area, so we have a little more handicap parking,” Mesnage said.
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 to park at the Windsor campus with the proceeds going to the district’s band program.
For more information, call City Hall at 636-464-7407 or visit gokimmswick.com or cityofkimmswick.org.