Kimmswick Historical Society members are busy peeling apples and Kimmswick merchants are readying their shops for the big crowds expected this weekend for the town’s annual Apple Butter Festival.
The festivities, which will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday (Oct. 7) and Sunday (Oct. 28), will include hundreds of vendors, music, food and, of course, the Historical Society’s delicious apple butter.
Admission to the festival is free. Parking will be available for $5 at the Windsor schools campus, 6208 Hwy. 61-67, with free shuttle rides to and from the festival both days.
There also will be parking available at the Imperial Youth Association fields along Hwy. K, weather permitting. Handicapped parking will be available at Windsor Elementary School in Kimmswick. Take Montebello Road to get to the school.
Proceeds from the parking fees will go to Windsor High School’s Golden Brigade marching band, the Windsor wrestling team and the Imperial Youth Association.
No vehicle traffic or parking will be allowed in the town from 7:30 a.m. until after 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Guests will find “more handmade crafters than ever before,” said Ward 1 Alderwoman Connie Schmitt, who heads up the festival committee.
In all, the festival will include more than 600 booths for vendors displaying and selling crafts, food, beverages and a wide variety of merchandise, Schmitt said.
She said the festival typically draws more than 120,000 over the two-days.
“This will be the 42nd year for one of the most popular festivals in Missouri,” Schmitt said.
She said the festival will offer lots of fun activities for people of all ages.
The city of Kimmswick keeps proceeds from the vendor booth rentals, and the Kimmswick Historical Society keeps the profits from the sale of apple butter.
The Historical Society pays a company to make most of the apple butter sold at the event, but the society makes one big pot of the sweet treat each day of the event.
“They will begin peeling apples today (Oct. 25) before the festival and getting all their spices ready for the large kettle that they use to make their delicious apple butter,” Schmitt said. “They start early in the morning both days of the festival and continue stirring the butter all day long. You can stop by, give it a few stirs and get an official sticker that states you were an expert stirrer.”
The apple butter goes fast so those who want a jar should get there early, she said.
Demonstrations
The festival will again include some chainsaw wood-carving demonstrations, but some new craft demonstrations have been added this year, Schmitt said.
For example, the Davidson Family will show off their blacksmithing expertise, and visitors will have the chance to watch the OH Fudge company make their popular fudge.
Children
Popular children’s activities also are included in this weekend’s events, Schmitt said.
“We will have a petting zoo, pony rides and a few bounce houses,” she said. “Clowns will be walking around doing magic tricks. (Also) very popular last year was the white tiger exhibit on Elm and Second Street. These animals are beautiful!”
Music
There will be music each day of the festival from beginning to end, with bands playing on the Elm Street stage. On Saturday, The Chicken Whiskey Band will perform, and on Sunday the Retro Band will provide the entertainment. Next to City Hall, the Rocking Robin DJ will play music and karaoke, Schmitt said.
Food and drink
An array of food will be offered, from American fare to food from the Far East, Schmitt said.
“We have plenty of food booths – Greek, Mexican, Colombian, BBQ, Thai, all types of international and American foods,” she said.
Beer from H.W. Herrell will be served in three locations around town – near City Hall, at the City Park and in a booth at the intersection of Second and Market Streets. Bardenheirs Wine Cellar, Wood Hat Spirits and the Brick River Cider Co. will sell their products at Elm Street near the bands, Schmitt said.
Kimmswick’s popular restaurants and shops also will be open during the event, she said.
The Rock Community Fire Protection District will have a heating and cooling station at the event, and there will be a first aid booth and a lost child/parent booth, Schmitt said.
“In addition to our nursing mother booth by Hand ‘n Hand Pregnancy Help Center, one of our sponsors, Procter and Gamble, will have a baby-changing trailer and will be giving away free diapers manufactured by their company in Missouri,” Schmitt said.
For more information about activities and their locations, visitors can download a free smart phone app called Palaroo.
“(Just) click on the Apple Butter Festival and you can find any rented booth or activity that you need," Schmitt said.
An information booth will be set up near the intersection of Fourth and Beckett streets as guests enter the town.
For more information, call City Hall at 636-464-7407 and leave a message or go to www.cityofkimmswick.org.