The busy downtown in Weston, Mo. will be infested with apples this weekend during the 27th annual Applefest, which runs Saturday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 4. The two-day festival includes a parade, activities, live music, vendors and, of course, plenty of apple products. Organizers note that limited handicap parking will be available downtown, but other visitors are encouraged to locate the numerous parking areas, many located six blocks or less from the downtown area.
Shuttle service will be available from some and will run both days, although not during the parade scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. The parade will feature antique tractors, classic cars, fire trucks and bands.
Applefest runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the first day and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Adults are asked to donate $1 while kids under 15 are free.
There will be more than 60 art and craft booths along Main Street in addition to the permanent shops, which will be open. There will also be the Garden Harvest Market vendors with fruits, vegetables, pumpkins and gourds to decorate your home for fall.
Weston’s famous apple dumplings, apple pies and cookies will be available through the local churches, and visitors can watch apple butter being made over an open wood fire or work an apple press to see how apple cider is made.
Items to eat will be available at the Applefest Food Court, and local restaurants will also be open. Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. both days by the Eastern Star at the Masonic Lodge building on Main Street.
Children’s activities are planned in the park both days, including pony rides, face painting, straw bale maze, pumpkin painting along with the Agriculture Education Interactive Games and Activities: steer roping, apple toss, apple bowling, cow milking and life-size farm Operation game. A corn pool and soybean pool will also be available for small children to play in.
The live music schedule includes Mr. Stinky Feet (12:30-1:30 p.m., Saturday), Zydeco (2-3 p.m., Saturday), Dog Tree (3:30-6 p.m., Saturday), Truck Stop Honeymoon (noon-1 p.m., Sunday), Euphoric Sting Band (1:30-2:30 p.m., Sunday) and Knob Hill Skiffle Band (3-5 p.m., Sunday). Dana Wood will also provide interactive art performance as a living statue during both days.