Virtual Ruthven Apple Festival offering unique experience

RUTHVEN — As previously announced, due to safety concerns with COVID-19, the 2020 Ruthven Apple Festival will shift to a virtual format scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27.

All the proceeds raised through this new format will continue to go toward purchasing or maintaining accessible vehicles to help people with intellectual disabilities more fully participate in the community.

“We are very excited to be able to celebrate our annual event and continue to provide fans of the festival with many of its popular elements”, says Tony DeSantis, Manager of Community Relations with Community Living Essex County.

Ruthie Van Apple is all masked up and ready for this year’s Virtual Ruthven Apple Festival on September 26-27.

The 2020 virtual Ruthven Apple Festival will appeal and reach out to all age groups. Children’s attractions have been incorporated to encourage traffic to the site throughout the course of the weekend along with a combination of pre-recorded and live-streamed events like entertainment, a virtual classic car show, cooking classes, and art and pie auctions. As well, a variety of pies from local bakeries will be available to purchase online.

“We have aimed to try and recreate the popular festival experience with virtual vendors and the creation of the Apple Fest in a Basket fundraiser." said DeSantis.

A limited number of baskets will be available online for $50 at the Apple Fest shop on the festivals virtual site: www. ruthvenapplefest.com.

The Apple Fest Basket, available now for $50 at www.ruthvenapplefest.com

The baskets are filled with local items representing the flavour of the festival and Essex County including apple butter, maple syrup, honey, jams, soups, candy and caramel apples, apple cider vinegar, locally grown apples and much more.

The annual Ruthven Apple Festival attracts thousands to Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens every fall and in its 40-year history has raised over one million dollars in support of Community Living Essex County.

Look for more details and announcements on social media regarding the 2020 Virtual Ruthven Apple Festival on September 26-27.