Fair Haven is poised to celebrate all things apple as they host the annual AppleFest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday on the Town Green.
The popular community event features a wide range of activities for the entire family, including more than three dozen vendors, games, entertainment, food and the Historical Society Pie Baking Contest.
In only its third year, the Apple Pie Contest has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the annual event.
“It’s so popular and it’s very festive,” organizer Lorraine Brown said. “I think it adds to Apple Fest and helps the event.”
The event has grown from nine pies in its inaugural year to 16 last year and Brown expects that trend to continue this year.
This year’s contest is split into two divisions: one of amateur bakers and for the first time, a children’s division.
“Last year we had a little girl from Rutland who was six years old, who won the pie contest at the Rutland Fair and entered here and won for best tasting pie,” Brown said. “So we figured we’d add a children’s division.”
Contestants in the children’s division must be 10 years old or younger and their entries must be in plastic wrap and in a disposable tin of any size.
Brown said she has lined up a couple of children’s judges to go along with a single adult judge who will evaluate the pies.
In the adult division, all entries must be entered by 11 a.m. and be in a pie tin that is at least eight inches in diameter.
Pies must consist primarily of apple but other fruits are permissible.
After the pies are judged, they will be sold, either by the slice or the pie, to hungry patrons and encouraging family members.
“Every family loves their mother or grandmother’s pies best. When it’s all over a lot people end up buying that pie. Some pies are already reserved.
Organizers are also asking professional bakers to donate a pie or apple-based dessert that will be sold to the public before judging begins.
“We’ve asked professional bakers to donate a pie or dessert for sale. It makes people’s tummies happy.”
Proceeds from the sale of pies will benefit the Marble Fence Project.
Brown said there are still posts available for sale and that the last post could be in the ground by this weekend.
“We’ve worked on this project for three years. It’s been at the forefront of everything we do,” she said.
Elsewhere on the Town Green, Fair Haven students have planned a number of activities.
“It’s basically the same thing every, but with a few new faces,” organizer Kandi Ramey said.
Students in kindergarten, first and second grades are bringing back the famous cake wheel, always a crowd favorite.
Middle school students are organizing a “Balloon Blast,” where balloons of water are broken over their heads of teachers and students have a chance to exact a little revenge for an overabundance of homework.
“Other grades will fill in and do some other things to,” Ramey said.
Besides the activities planned by the students, the event also features a variety of apple inspired dishes and a bevy of different vendors.
“I know we have Lewis’s Sugar Shack coming back and some of the quilter and craft vendors will be back as well,” Ramey said. “Brown’s always has their pies and homemade donuts and the school is doing hot dogs and hamburgers.”
The Fair Haven Farmers’ Market will also be part of the festival offering patrons the opportunity to purchase a variety of fall produce, the Fair Haven Library will hold its annual Book Sale at the library and the Rotary Club will host a Chicken Barbecue.
According to Ramey, proceeds raised from the event help pay for field trips and programs that students take throughout the year.
Admission to AppleFest is free. A rain date has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24.
