Busti Apple Festival is Saturday, Sunday, in Busti
Busti Apple Festival is Saturday, Sunday, in Busti
A child talks with a vendor during a past Busti Apple Festival.
A crowd walks past the Busti Grist Mill during a past Busti Apple Festival.
A child talks with a vendor during a past Busti Apple Festival.
A crowd walks past the Busti Grist Mill during a past Busti Apple Festival.
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The Busti Apple Festival will once again fill the Busti Historical Society's 1850 campus this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
New this year is a schedule of events to make sure visitors don't miss a demonstration, Civil War drill or the restored mill grinding grain. Hazeltine Public Library staff members are holding a story time both days. The schedule will be posted on the Apple Festival Facebook page prior to the festival as well throughout the festival and in the handouts available at the gates.
"We have continued working on adding more vendor space for artisan, commercial and nonprofit groups to bring more of our communities together, all to improve the two day event," said Brad Buck, board president.
The new free parking lot area is off of the Busti-Sugar Grove Road, just south of the five-point intersection in Busti. From Jamestown, the lot can be accessed by taking Forest Avenue Extension.
"Please use our free parking lot. Do not pay for parking to get closer, we have handicapped parking and a shuttle to move our guests to and from the parking lot," Buck said.
Admission is $5, cash, or $5.50, card, at the gate for adults, children under 12 are free.
"The Busti Apple Festival is held rain or shine, and we strongly ask that you leave your pets home," Buck said. "We are encouraging families to start a new tradition of taking a fall photo at the festival using one of our fall sceneries."
In the past few years, the Busti Historical Society received grant funding for the campus improvements from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Hultquist Foundation to fix the parking lot area, add electricity access for vendors and add drainage to the vendor area.
Children's activities are throughout the festival, including learning how to milk a cow, playing with old-fashioned toys and games, talking with the craft demonstrators who are basket weaving, leather working, woodworking and more. Wagon and pony rides are also available for a small fee.
Sponsors for the event are Brad Buck Trucking, Lakewood Runnings, Todd R. Allen Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley, The Frewsburger, The Bucket, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Maple Springs Tree Service and Ecklof's Bakery and Deli.
Up to 150 vendors will fill the campus from the 1839 grist mill to the new parking area. More than 125 hand-made craft vendor spaces are available with an added area for commercial and non-profit vendors. One area is set aside for food trucks.
The festival features many volunteers who will be demonstrating old-time everyday activities that are no longer done by hand.
"We welcome anyone that is interested in everyday tasks from the mid-nineteenth century. If you would like to learn any of the tasks, please let us know," said Victoria Parker, Demonstrator Committee. "Last year we asked our visitors to wear their historic inspired costume to the festival, we would like more to do so this year. Over the years our volunteers have dressed in colonial or Victorian era outfits to help set the atmosphere. This year we would like to invite more guests to join us, so break out the hoop skirts and top hats and come join the fun."
Many visitors come for apples, cider and homemade fruit pies. The Busti Cider Mill is a vendor at the festival selling bags of apples and gallons of cider. The Country Store, which is filled with handmade crafts and food items, benefits the Busti Historical Society. More than 200 handmade pies will be available for sale either by the slice or as a whole pie.
The event features the restored 1839 grist mill. The mill is one of only a few working mills left in the northeast. Along with the mill is the miller's house which is being lovingly restored to its 1846 elegance. Flour, buckwheat and corn meal, all ground at the mill, will be available for purchase. The mill will be running throughout the festival with educational tours available.
"The campus also has a museum about Busti history with several hands-on exhibits for children. Even if you have been to the museum every year - this year will be different," says Joni Blackman, Busti Historical Society director. "We have added a shuttle service this year to help move people through the parking area. It looks like a train and is donated for the event by Brad Buck, board president."
Additional information can be found on the Busti Historical Society's Facebook page and at www.bustihistoricalsociety.com.