GREENE – Saturday’s forecast calls for a mild day with highs in the mid-60s. That’s good news for the organizers of the Greene Apple Fest, which is expected to draw roughly 10,000 visitors in this, its 23rd year.

The day-long event, sponsored annually by the United Methodist Church of Greene, has become a tradition for crafters and apple aficionados who come from near and far for the annual fall celebration.

Traditionally scheduled for the fourth weekend in September, the free, family friendly event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Greene Ball Flats.

The main attraction is, of course, apples.

“If it’s apple, it’s on that field somewhere,” reported this year’s festival chair, Robert Corey. Vendors will be selling or sampling everything from apple cider and apple butter, to apple fritters and pies. Lots of pies.

According to Corey, more than 3,740 pounds of apples - which translates to 90 bushels - go into making the event happen. That includes 70 bushels of apples in five varieties which are sold at the Ball Flats. Another 20 bushels of Paula Reds, kin to the ever-popular Macintosh, go into making the 750 apple pies which church volunteers have already baked for the event.

Those volunteers began baking two and a half months ago, starting with 150 strawberry rhubarb and 100 blueberry pies. Right before Labor Day, they turned their efforts to apple, which they baked over the first three weekends of September.