GREENE – On Saturday, September, 26 the 39th annual Greene Applefest returns to the Greene Community Ball Flats from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Greene (FUMC), the family-friendly event offers apple-themed treats, live entertainment, kids activities, and a variety of goods for sale.

Organizers say visitors can expect around 100 craft vendors, Co-chair Vera Hackett said, “Pretty much anything and everything you could think of at a craft fair is there.” Expect to see wood-working, jewelry, knit work, paintings, books, and more.

There will be a mix of food options and plenty of apple-themed treats, including the church's homemade pies. Church volunteers bake around seven to eight hundred pies each year for the occasion, along with traditional Welsh cookies that have become one of their staples. Aside from delicious homemade baked goods, they will also be selling apple cider, donuts, candied apples, and bags of fresh apples.

Proceeds from the bake sale are put toward local causes like scholarships for graduating seniors, summer camp assistance, and towards helping Greene EMS and Fire Department, among other community organizations.

Food vendors on-site include The Scoop of Whitney Point, Rock and Roll Kettle Corn, Smithville Grange, Tropical Snow, Kandi's Kitchen, Cup of Mud, the Oxford Grange and the traditional Lions Club chicken barbecue. Also, expect for vendors to offer their own spin on classic apple-themed treats, like cider slushies, Co-Chair Janette Hicks said, “there's various apple products around.”

Live entertainment organized by the church's music director, Winnie Sortman, will run throughout the day featuring a mix of bands, instrumentals, singers, and a live juggler.

The free Kids Zone will feature bouncy houses, face painting, puppet shows, giant bubbles, games, pumpkin painting, and horse and pony rides from Helping Hands of Coventry.

“And then what we have is quite a few nonprofits or people that don't necessarily sell things but give out information,” Hicks added.

Law enforcement will be there to offer child fingerprinting, Lourdes mammography truck will have walk-in screenings, Walgreens plans to host a flu shot booth and several local non-profit organizations will be there to provide resources and information.

Visitors can expect a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere throughout the day at the Ball Flats, with plenty of opportunity to explore vendors, enjoy music, take part in activities, and see friendly faces.

“People are friendly. They just walk around and enjoy the sunshine” said Hackett, “It's kind of the last hurrah before everything gets back to school and snow and all that kind of thing. Everybody just really seems to have a really nice time.” she added.

Applefest remains one of Greene's most cherished fall traditions. For more information got to: fumcgreene.com/applefest.