Warwick to celebrate 30th Applefest next Sunday, Oct. 14

WARWICK — Warwick’s largest annual event is only a week away.
The Town of Warwick will roll out its usual red carpet, rain or shine, on next Sunday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for an estimated 30,000 visitors to the 30th annual celebration of Applefest.
The traditional festival, the area’s most well attended street fair, has been held since 1989 to celebrate the local apple harvest.
The free festival will host 275 craft and food vendors and feature a variety of live stage performances including music and dance groups, carnival rides for children, a Farmers Market, an apple pie-baking contest and 50 local non-profit exhibitors.
Applefest 2018 T-shirts feature a special 30th anniversary commemorative design created by local designer/communications specialist, Louise LoPinto Hutchison, and will be sold at the “Applefest Information” Chamber of Commerce Caboose on South Street during the festival. The annual Applefest T-shirt design competition will return next year, in 2019.
Family-friendly children’s activities in Stanley-Deming Park will include kiddie carnival rides and games, kids’ activities and food concessions. The “Pre-Applefest Kids Karnival” is on Friday, Oct. 12, from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
And on Sunday, Oct. 14, the “Karnival” area will also include horse and pony rides and a rabbit petting area from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival committee trusts local residents will not be too upset by any inconvenience that day.
Applefest is a major fund raiser and much-needed proceeds from the event are used for townwide community projects and 50 non-profit organizations, which participate in the annual celebration. And for many, Applefest is the one fund-raising event that provides necessary money to serve the community throughout the year.
Traffic to and from the Village is expected to be unusually heavy.
The Warwick Police Department urges residents to avoid driving near or through the village. There are special designated parking areas at the High School, Middle School, Park Avenue School and Veterans Memorial Park with shuttle service to and from the festival as required. Transportation for the disabled will be available at the Middle School parking area. Look for the signs.
“In addition to supporting the Warwick Valley Community Center,” said Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, “Applefest enables the Chamber to continue its work on developing business and increasing tourism in the Warwick Valley. It also provides a way for some 50 local, non-profit organizations to raise money in one day, without having to solicit in their local communities throughout the year.”
The Applefest 2018 Visitors’ Guide may be found on the Website and is distributed free at the event.
The booklet contains visitor information, directories of craft and food vendors, entertainment schedule, shuttle bus information, map of the festival area and upcoming local events.
For additional information or to view the Applefest Visitor’s Guide online go to: www.warwickapplefest.com.
- Roger Gavan