The 35th annual Vermont Apple Festival

A favorite Springfield tradition continues Saturday, Oct. 7, with the 35th Annual Vermont Apple Festival, organized by the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. The free, family-fun event runs from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road, Springfield.


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The 35th annual Vermont Apple Festival is here October 2, 2017 apple Wellwood Orchard’s representing apples in last year’s festival. Photo provided. SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – A favorite Springfield tradition continues Saturday, Oct. 7, with the 35th Annual Vermont Apple Festival, organized by the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. The free, family-fun event runs from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road, Springfield. While crafters from all over Vermont and the rest of New England are the main attraction with their one-of-a-kind handmade items, the festival also features pony rides, apple-cider making, food vendors, a beer and wine tent, live music, a farmer’s market, a balloon artist, kids’ races, pie and doughnut eating contests, and much more. Miss Vermont 2017, Erin Connor of Bridport, will be one of the judges of the pie contest. For Jeff Perkins, Springfield chamber president, the festival provides the opportunity to showcase all that the region has to offer. “It gets all the local artists and some vendors you might not see at the bigger stores out in front of the community,” he said. “We have some awesome artists.” While the apple festival attracts visitors from all over the country, the event’s core is all about community. Perkins, for example, likes the Fastest Kid in Town Race because “it gets families to show up and gets kids involved and they get to see what’s going on in their own community.” The festival also is becoming a foodie event that features favorite fair food and more. This year’s food vendors will sell kettle corn, cotton candy, fried dough, jalapeno sweet pickles, burgers, hot dogs, steak and cheese subs, sausage subs, chili, chowders, apple crisps, apple pie, cupcakes, and doughnuts. apple A lane of vendors with fun, fair foodie favorites. Photo provided. Some new elements will mark this 35th milestone year. Trout River Brewery and Vermont Vines on the River will be on the softball field, pouring beer and wine from noon to 4 p.m. for patrons 21 and older. Popular local band DV8 will add to the festive atmosphere with their performance of classic and southern rock near the beer tent. A wide variety of established and new crafters will show and sell their wares. Among the returning vendors is Joe Langton of Unique Turning VT. Langton, who spent 38 years as a machinist for Lovejoy Tool, is a wood turner known for his handcrafted bowls into which he incorporates shadow lines and a colorful ring of “eyes.” He will sell his specialty salad bowls, knitting bowls, candy dishes, and bottle stoppers at the apple festival. His work is made of Vermont woods and maple, which he buys in Vermont but may come from elsewhere. Each bowl is hand sanded and signed by Langton. Langton, who has been selling his products at the apple festival for the past eight or nine years, started wood turning about a decade ago after reading a book and watching a video on wood turning. “I haven’t done anything flat since,” he said. “It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done with wood.” Among the new vendors at this year’s apple fest is Lisa Vogell, who makes artisan, cold-processed soap using traditional techniques with water, lye, plant saps, fragrance, and coloring. Her company is Springfield Soap Company and her products are sold at the Wellwood Orchard and Springfield Co-op. While Vogell grew up in Springfield and graduated from high school here, she had been living in Florida for the past 34 years before returning last year to spend more time with her mother. Vogell likes both the technical and artistic aspects of soap making. Using scientific calculations with the oils, water and lye, she creates soaps with different qualities – some hard, some soft, some more bubbly than others, others creamier than others. “I make my soap in small batches, mixed and poured with art and beauty in mind,” she said. While Springfield has undergone a lot of changes in the time she’s been gone, Vogell said she’s excited to participate in the 35th year of the apple festival. “Thirty-five years – that’s quite a statement in itself,” she said. In addition to the products Langton and Vogell will bring to the festival, other vendors will feature such items as custom wood burnings and other wood crafts, greeting cards, appliqued baby clothes, homemade quilts, placemats, scarves, purses, goat milk soap and lotion, photography, a variety of jewelry, pottery, stained glass, gourd birdhouses, homemade nut butters, Christmas tree skirts and table toppers, aprons and pot holders, handmade wooden toys, primitive paintings on old wood and slate, paintings, finger puppets, engraved glass, home furnishings, cloth dolls and animals, doll clothes, sunscreen and insect repellant – and that’s just to name a few. apple Apple pies and pastries. Photo provided. Some vendors will specialize in items for pets including: dog collars, leashes, harnesses, hand stamped ID tags, handmade pet beds, catnip toys, homegrown catnip, and pet bandanas with custom embroidery. Caitlin Christiana, the Springfield chamber’s executive director, points out that the timing of the festival is perfect for all things Vermont – the harvest season, apple picking, and beautiful fall foliage – not to mention it’s a great time to start holiday gift shopping. Most importantly, the festival is a time for neighbors to get together to enjoy the fall season. “We’re honored to be hosting the 35th Annual Vermont Apple Festival. This fun and family-friendly fair is a cherished event in our vibrant community, and we’re so happy to be keeping this important tradition going strong,” said Christiana. “We hope to see everyone there.” For more information, call 802-885-2779 or visit springfieldvt.com.