Greene hosts 24th Annual Apple Fest
GREENE – If it’s apples you’re looking for, it’s apples you’ll find in Greene this weekend as apple lovers and crafters alike flock to southern Chenango County to enjoy the fruits of New York’s bountiful apple harvest at the Greene Apple Fest.
The day-long event, which is traditionally scheduled for the fourth weekend in September, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Greene Ball Flats. Now in its 24th year, the annual fall celebration is sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Greene.
According to the festival’s chairperson, Greg Cobb, 12 to 15,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event, which is traditionally scheduled for the fourth weekend in September.
As the name implies, the event is all about apples – of which 60 to 80 bushels or approximately 1 1/2 tons – are brought in. And that’s not counting the apples which go into making apple fritters, dumplings, cider, butter, jelly and countless other apple-related products on offer during the event.
Or the pies.
By Saturday, church volunteers will have baked more than 900 pies for the event. Some of those pies will be of the blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, and cherry variety, but the vast majority are, of course, apple.
Good thing Cobb isn’t afraid of the kitchen, because he’s one of the 20-25 core volunteers who dedicate their time to the process. From handmaking the dough, to helping peel the 18 bushels of Paula Reds – an earlier ripening variety of the ever-popular McIntosh – the festival chair is intimately acquainted with every step of the process.
A process which, after all those years of experience, the United Methodist’s bakers have down to a science.
The group started baking their famous apple pies the week before Labor Day. They begin each weekend work session by preparing the dough on Thursdays. Friday, they turn their attention to peeling and paring bushels of apples before putting the first 100 pies into the oven. Another 150 are baked on Saturday.
Averaging 250 pies per week, the group baked close to 750 apple pies for this year’s festival.
Cobb says visitors should bring their appetites, but be forewarned, most of the non-profit food vendors on hand for the event sell out of their apple-inspired dishes.
“If you don’t get here early, you’re not going to eat,” said the festival organizer.
Take the apple dumplings for which the local chapter of the Easter Star are known.
“If you don’t buy one by noon, you’re not getting them,” Cobb reported.
Of course, there is more than just food on offer at the day-long event. This year’s Apple Fest will feature 110 crafters, live music, food vendors, a petting zoo, bounce house and pumpkin painting.
Admission to the family-friendly event is free, and all proceeds flow back into the local community through scholarships and other mission work.
“It’s all about the community,” the festival chair said.
Cobb recommends festival-goers take advantage of the free parking available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. A free shuttle will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to ferry event goers from the parking lot to the Ball Flats. Additional parking will be available in the village’s municipal parking areas.
The 23rd Annual Greene Apple Fest will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, September 25 at the Greene Ball Flats. Admission is free and families are welcome. Pets, however, are not allowed.
The day-long event, which is traditionally scheduled for the fourth weekend in September, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Greene Ball Flats. Now in its 24th year, the annual fall celebration is sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Greene.
According to the festival’s chairperson, Greg Cobb, 12 to 15,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s event, which is traditionally scheduled for the fourth weekend in September.
As the name implies, the event is all about apples – of which 60 to 80 bushels or approximately 1 1/2 tons – are brought in. And that’s not counting the apples which go into making apple fritters, dumplings, cider, butter, jelly and countless other apple-related products on offer during the event.
Or the pies.
By Saturday, church volunteers will have baked more than 900 pies for the event. Some of those pies will be of the blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, and cherry variety, but the vast majority are, of course, apple.
Good thing Cobb isn’t afraid of the kitchen, because he’s one of the 20-25 core volunteers who dedicate their time to the process. From handmaking the dough, to helping peel the 18 bushels of Paula Reds – an earlier ripening variety of the ever-popular McIntosh – the festival chair is intimately acquainted with every step of the process.
A process which, after all those years of experience, the United Methodist’s bakers have down to a science.
The group started baking their famous apple pies the week before Labor Day. They begin each weekend work session by preparing the dough on Thursdays. Friday, they turn their attention to peeling and paring bushels of apples before putting the first 100 pies into the oven. Another 150 are baked on Saturday.
Averaging 250 pies per week, the group baked close to 750 apple pies for this year’s festival.
Cobb says visitors should bring their appetites, but be forewarned, most of the non-profit food vendors on hand for the event sell out of their apple-inspired dishes.
“If you don’t get here early, you’re not going to eat,” said the festival organizer.
Take the apple dumplings for which the local chapter of the Easter Star are known.
“If you don’t buy one by noon, you’re not getting them,” Cobb reported.
Of course, there is more than just food on offer at the day-long event. This year’s Apple Fest will feature 110 crafters, live music, food vendors, a petting zoo, bounce house and pumpkin painting.
Admission to the family-friendly event is free, and all proceeds flow back into the local community through scholarships and other mission work.
“It’s all about the community,” the festival chair said.
Cobb recommends festival-goers take advantage of the free parking available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. A free shuttle will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to ferry event goers from the parking lot to the Ball Flats. Additional parking will be available in the village’s municipal parking areas.
The 23rd Annual Greene Apple Fest will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, September 25 at the Greene Ball Flats. Admission is free and families are welcome. Pets, however, are not allowed.
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