Contributing Writer
Joni Blackman
The Busti Apple Festival will once again fill the Busti Historical Society’s 1850 campus on Sunday, September 25 from 11 PM to 5 PM. The festival will feature family friendly activities, many area vendors and fall favorites. The traditional event is held rain or shine. “We are very excited to be holding the 48th Annual Apple Festival,” said Nancy Aitken, Board President, “it also happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Busti Historical Society.”
The event features the restored 1836 grist mill. The mill is only a few working mills left in the north east. Along with the mill is the miller’s house that is being lovingly restored to its 1846 elegance. Flour, corn meal, and buckwheat flour, all ground at the mill will be available for purchase. The mill will be running throughout the festival with educational tours available.
Out on the 2 plus acres of grounds, over 75 vendors will be selling handmade items while nineteen demonstrators show how to do old-time crafts and once daily tasks such as cider making, hand quilting, and leatherworking. The Society’s Country Store will also be well stocked with homemade items.
New this year is a farmer’s market with the following businesses selling their products: Spruce Donkey Flower Farm, Barbara’s Specialty Teas, the Herb Mill, Maple Run Country Farms, Big Tree Maple Farm and Aber’s Acres.
Admission is $5 per person at the gates with children under 12 years old admitted free. The gates are a new this year. In the past guests paid for parking and then were admitted. Parking will be on the Busti Fireman’s grounds with entry from the Sugar Grove Road and Lawson Road as in the past.
One of the main draws of the festival are the apples! From fresh baked pies, to apples by the bag and gallons of apple cider. It’s all at the Busti Apple Festival. Ms. Aitken added, “we have 10 food trucks this year with their delicious options to add to the apple pies and cider. Magic Moments Carriages will be back with carriage rides and pony rides for all ages.”
This year’s sponsors are Buck Trucking, Inc., Community Bank, Geraci & Co Accountants, Wilcox Brothers True Value Hardware, Frewsburger Pizza and Ice Cream Shop and GJL Services/Gregory Lepley.
Additional information can be found at the Busti Historical Society’s Facebook page, facebook.com/bustihistoricalsociety.
