Record crowds expected for Applefest celebration

Come out and enjoy the fun, By Roger Gavan WARWICK - Weather permitting, an estimated 30,000 visitors are expected to come to Warwick this Sunday, Oct. 7, for the 19th annual celebration of Applefest. The traditional festival, Warwick’s largest and most well-attended event, has been held since 1988 to celebrate the local apple harvest. This year Applefest will feature over 240 craft vendors and 40 food vendors, as well as music, dancing and a variety of other free entertainment, plus children’s rides, an authentic stagecoach, and an old fashion apple pie contest. Local families also have an opportunity to avoid the crowds and enjoy rides, games, music and food at Stanley-Deming Park on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Warwick Valley Community Center is hosting two fun evenings. There’ll be music and giveaways on Friday night and Saturday, “Applefest Eve,” is family night when a one-time charge allows unlimited rides. Traffic this Sunday is expected to be unusually heavy, particularly along Route 17A. The Warwick Police Department urges residents to avoid driving near or through the Village. There are special designated parking areas at Memorial Park, the Middle School and the Park Avenue School 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. The Applefest committee trusts local residents will not be too upset by any inconvenience this Sunday. The popular festival is a major fundraiser and much needed proceeds from the event are used for town-wide community projects and non-profit organizations. This Sunday the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and The Warwick Valley Community Center will also distribute its all-new Visitors Guide for Applefest 2007. “Both residents and visitors look forward to seeing the dynamic area businesses, diverse exhibitors and events that fill the pages of this publication,” said Janine Dethmers, who managed the project for her firm, Corporate Impressions.