Warwick enjoys record high temperatures for Applefest celebration

WARWICK- Last Sunday, Oct. 7, an estimated 30,000 visitors who came to Warwick’s 19th annual celebration of Applefest enjoyed mostly clear skies and record breaking temperatures above 80 degrees. The traditional festival has been held since 1988 to celebrate the local apple harvest. It seems that Applefest, Warwick’s largest and most well-attended event, nearly always has been blessed with good weather. Betty Garrison, co-coordinator for this year’s event, recalls that 19 years ago, the very first Applefest was almost wiped out by Hurricane Hugo, which struck this area in the early afternoon. This year, Applefest again played host to about 300 craft and food vendors and there was free entertainment, children’s rides and a traditional apple pie contest. Josephine Major won first place in the adult division of the pie contest. Julia Amandson, 11, and her sister Jessica, 7 took first-place winner among the junior entries. Danielle Leahey won the adult prize for best apple cake/bread, and Greg Bollman, 10, took first place in the junior division. Volunteers also distributed the 2007 Applefest Visitors Guide, which contains vendor names and contact information, events schedule, artists, entertainment locations and educational material about apple varieties and the history of the apple in New York State. The guide also included a map of local orchards open to apple picking. Each year the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Warwick Valley Community Center host Applefest. 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. Despite the magnitude of the event, the largest in the country, Applefest is surprisingly cost effective. For example, because it also makes a generous donation, County Waste effectively collects the garbage without charge. Firefighters, members of the Ambulance Corps. and even officers from the Sheriff’s Department all volunteer their time. In return for a donation from the Applefest Committee, members of non-profit organizations also volunteer their time to perform tasks before and after the event. They all do a good job. Anyone visiting downtown Warwick on the day following the event would have trouble believing that an estimated 30,000 people had crowded the streets only one day before. Applefest earns its keep by renting space to vendors and organizations and by sharing the amusement income with the company that provides the rides. Most of the nonprofit organizations serve food or sell retail items. “For many,” said Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, “Applefest is their major fundraiser for the entire year.” With the exception of restaurants, Warwick merchants may not see any significant increase in sales on Applefest Sunday. But, they do benefit from the exposure, returning visitors and publicity for the Village that includes mention in major publications including the New York Times as well as all local media. “We also give local businesses preference if they wish to be a vendor that day,” said co-coordinator Betty Garrison. Although Warwick residents have been known to grumble about the crowds and heavy traffic during Applefest, Garrison believes that recently most people have learned that the nonprofit organizations, like the Warwick Community Center, provide a valuable service to the community throughout the year. “It’s only one day. And just look at all the good it does,” she said. Editor’s note: For photographs of Applefest events, please turn to page 26.