Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest 2024 in Ohio

Applebutter Fest takes place on the second Sunday of October in Grand Rapids, Ohio. The traditional festival has been held since 1976 and showcases apple products, offers unique entertainment such as re-enactments, traditional crafts, pioneer demonstrations, and music. The festival features jugglers, puppeteers, ventriloquists and costumed storytellers to entertain visitors of various ages.

Festival Attractions

The festival features three stages of entertainment: one in Howard Park and two of them in town. They present non-stop live music and a cappella singers. Other highlights include antique farm equipment display, vintage car show and parade, quilts and other handmade crafts displays.

Military Encampment at the festival provides and exciting and educational experience, honoring the memory of World War II veterans. The encampment features displays of uniforms, weapons, equipment, and tactics used in World War II. The public can meet reenactments groups, like German mountain troops, WWII GIs, and French Resistance civilians.

The children's area of the festival features fun activities, like balloon animals and face painting, and entertainers: clowns, jugglers, ventriloquists, puppeteers, and costumed storytellers. The farm area boasts antique tractors and equipment for corn shelling, grinding, and sifting. Farm animals include cows, sheep, and hogs. Attendees can witness activities like milking, shearing, bee-keeping, spinning, and butter-making. The festival runs from 10 a.m. after a signal cannon blast until 5 p.m. Admission is free, but parking is $15. The Village is closed to vehicular traffic from 7 am to 5 pm on Sunday.

Location

Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest takes place in the picturesque area, on the banks of the beautiful Maumee River. It is organized by the Historical Society of Grand Rapids that decided to revive the old tradition of making apple butter. In the early days, it was a common way to preserve apple crops for winter. Copper kettles were put out next to the Town Hall, and locals spent hours of boiling and stirring the apples. This tradition has been revived and has grown into a significant event attracting 40,000 ​visitors.