It’s apple festival time in Springfield

You can eat apple pie, watch cider being pressed and kiss a long-eared donkey at the 30th annual Vermont Apple Festival Saturday in Springfield.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121005/NEWS02/710059871

Published October 5, 2012 in the Rutland Herald It’s apple festival time in Springfield By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — You can eat apple pie, watch cider being pressed and kiss a long-eared donkey at the 30th annual Vermont Apple Festival Saturday in Springfield. But those are only some of the things you can do at the community celebration, which includes a plethora of apples, but also includes a craft show featuring 50 different artisans, as well as activities for children. Jennifer Petersson, the new executive director of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday that the festival is truly a community event. “People have just called up and told me what they are doing and I don’t have to make any phone calls,” said Petersson, who started her job a month ago. One of the highlights of the festival, which is held at Riverside Middle School, is the apple pie contest. Bakers should drop off their pies, either traditional or original, by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for the noontime judging. She said there will be cash prizes for first, second and third places. The contest pies won’t be sold. “Those are restricted to the judges,” she said. By traditional, Petersson said, the pies should be made with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar and two crusts. By original, she said, the pies can be made of anything else – with apples, of course. The chamber sells apple pie and apple crisp from its booth, or people can buy a whole pie, she said. There will also be apple-cider pressing demonstrations, and cider for sale. Other apple treats such as caramel apples and candy apples will also be sold. Pumpkins will be sold as a fundraiser for People to People, she said. This year, the members of the Springfield Farmers’ Market will be incorporated into the Apple Festival, and will move from its downtown location to Riverside, she said. Several of those farmers will have apples for sale, she said. There will also be fair food, such as Italian sausages, fried bread dough, chowder and chili. Petersson said that the crafters and artisans will offer everything from a kilt to a dog quilt, with offerings including jewelry, wooden products, fleece items, floral arrangements, sweaters, quilts, ceramics, beeswax candles, handmade soaps and jams. She said local authors will be on hand to autograph books and local area musicians will provide music. Children will have a chance to have their face painted, take a pony ride, or kiss Louise the donkey, who is part of the Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue of Acworth, N.H. Children will also have a chance to make a special wallet out of magazine pages and packing tape, a variation on the popular duct-tape wallets, she said. Admission to the festival is free, and is held rain or shine. The festival is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, contact the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce at 885-2779, or via email at springfieldrcoc@vermontel.net. The 30th annual Apple Festival and Craft Fair, which includes an apple pie baking contest, is Saturday at Riverside Middle School. Here, judges cut into some of the many pies during a recent contest. Photo: Photo provided