“Applefest is cancelled.”
“I’m going to un-cancel it.”
“You’re too busy, so why would you take Applefest on?”
“Because it is Applefest! It can’t be cancelled. It is too fun and too important. It has been an incredibly abundant harvest this year and it feels like we owe it to the trees to celebrate the super-abundance. Besides, people count on those heritage apple pies as part of their Thanksgiving weekend family celebrations and Applefest is one of those island traditions that helps to support Bowen Heritage. It connects people to local heritage, a sense of community and celebrates the heritage trees in Davies Orchard. Some of those trees are over 130 years old. Applefest is sort of like their annual Birthday party.”
So: you are invited to join us for Applefest 2018, Sunday, October 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is nestled in Davies Orchard in Snug Cove, Crippen Park, in behind the Tuscany restaurant. It is, as it has always been, a free, fun, family event. John and Josephine Riley will have their wonderful apple display with over 100 varieties – bring your mystery apple for identification. This will be their last year creating this display as they are retiring after many years of providing this display.
Heritage apples will be available for tasting and sales, as well as for fresh juice as the cider press has been booked. You can take a turn pressing your own juice. There will be delicious Bowen-grown, heritage apple pies for sale as a fundraiser for Bowen Heritage.
The Museum cottage will be open for tours and a peek into the Union Steamship Company days.
There is an apple pie baking contest and everyone is welcome to bake. Get it to the judging table before noon. Best pie wins $100
There will be a farmers’ market featuring locally grown, baked and made items, including apple rings, fruit leather, jams, jellies, sauces, baked items such as pumpkin pies, fresh made-on-the-spot pitas with local ingredients, Bowen salts, greens, farm fresh produce, honey, wool socks, plants and more!
The Cottage Tea House will be open and will serve slices of apple pie, apple scones and tea in a lovely setting. Local musicians will be playing and the cupcake walk will take place for all ages.
Volunteers are still needed to help with the event and the pie making extravaganza in the BICS kitchen 5-7 p.m. Friday Oct. 5 and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 6. Applefest runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Davies Orchard Sunday Oct. 7.
“So will this be the last Applefest?”
“I don’t know, we’ll have to see how this year turns out. We look forward to seeing you at the event this year. We can’t do it without you, so please come out to show your support and love of Applefest by joining in the fun, volunteering if you have some time, saying hello to fellow islanders at the event, buying a pie, enjoying the festivities and sharing what you love best about this traditional island event.”
