Hilton Apple Fest Special Section by Westside News Inc.

Apples galore at the 2024 Hilton Apple Fest

by Maggie Fitzgibbon on behalf of

any of these non-profit food vendors and you’ll help fund these organizations’ local community efforts. St. George’s Episcopal Church will sell apple sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions. Jaymee Turner is one of the St. George’s Episcopal Church food booth organizers. She explained why the group chose to sell this menu item.

Save the date for the 2024 Hilton Apple Fest. Year after year, this fall event marks the harvest season with a bountiful celebration of apples. This popular weekend festival is set for Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 6, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Village of Hilton on the grounds of the Community Center. This free weekend event is sure to please folks of all ages.

Visit the Hilton Apple Fest (HAF) and you’ll find a range of over 100 artists who will showcase their best work. You’ll also find non-profit community organizations, commercial vendors, and over 21 community food groups. The popularity of the HAF speaks for itself; it draws nearly 70,000 people over the two-day weekend. This popularity is what attracts artists and food groups/vendors. The food groups are made up of community organizations that sell a variety of food items including sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and of course, all things apple.

Take a walk through the food vendors area at the HAF and you’ll find almost any menu item you could ever crave. Purchase from

“We’ve been selling the apple sausage for a very long time. Each year, we order 1,000 to 1,300 and we sell out every year. The apple sausage is specially made for us by Swan Market in Rochester,” Turner explained.

“Swan Market only makes this sausage for us to sell at the Apple Fest.”

The proceeds from the St. George’s Episcopal Church support the everyday functions of the church. Like all the food groups, the funds are going back into the community, Turner said.

“It’s a long weekend, but so worth the work. All the food groups work together to help each other. It’s a cool thing to be a part of,” Turner said.

The HAF Auto Show is set for Saturday, October 5, at Village Elementary School located in the Village of Hilton. Registration is from 8 a.m. until noon and the awards ceremony is at 4 p.m. This year’s show will highlight the 60th anniversary of the Mustang. Three special awards will be presented for Club Participation, Best Overall Car of Show, and Best Mustang. Entrants can pre-register by visiting hiltonapplefestautoshow.org.

As expected, apples will be aplenty at the Hilton Apple Fest. Local apple growers will have their farm apple harvest, including bakery delights. The line tends to be long for these popular items, so don’t wait to queue up for these extra special treats. Looking for unique food items? Stop at the Farmer’s Market where you will find raw honey, beef jerky, homemade jams and jellies, and more. continued on page 14

Celebrating 42 Years ~ 2024

Sat., October 5 10am to 5pm Sun., October 6 10am to 4:30pm

PARKING INFORMATION:

Free festival parking is available at Hilton High School, 400 East Avenue. Free shuttle service to the Apple Fest Grounds is available 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Free accessible parking and shuttle are also available at the high school. If walking, the Apple Fest Grounds are located at 59 Henry St.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING OR DROP-OFF at the Apple Fest grounds, or adjacent village streets. Violators will be towed at vehicle owner’s expense.

Over 100 Arts & Crafts Vendors

Farmers Market,

Corey’s Apple Pond, Craft Raffle, Visa Gift Card Raffle, Official Apple Fest Merch, Community Row, Operation Safe Child ID’s Village Historian, Flu Shots, Apple Pie Baking Contest, Collectors Sale

Apple Growers

Apples, Baked Goods and Cider

Live Entertainment for the Whole Family

Farmer Tom, Jade Cook Pony Rides, Hilton HS Marching Band, Sawdogs Wood Carving Demo, Hilton Kyokushin Karate Demo Uptown Groove, B42K, 47 South, Dark Horse Trio, Cooper Scotti, Shari Ratka, Figure 8 Band, La Danse Dancers, The Victors Gymnastics, and much more!

AuTO ShOw

At Village Elementary School

The 2024 Apple Fest Auto Show will take place Saturday, October 5th at the Village Elementary School, and will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Mustang! Gates open at 8am, awards at 4pm. Visit HiltonAppleFestAutoShow.org for complete details.

PLEASE: NO ANIMALS, SKATES OR BIKES

Sat., Oct. 5 • 10am-5:00pm Sun., Oct. 6 • 10am-4:30pm

MAIN STAGE

SPECIAL EVENTS

AT THE APPLE FEST GROUNDS

Win Big At The Craft Raffle Booth

You could win a $500 Visa Gift Card! Sweepstakes drawing to be held on Dec. 2, 2024, with proceeds helping fund a scholarship for a 2025 Hilton High School graduate. While at the Craft Raffle booth, you can also enter to win one of the many wonderful items donated by festival artisans, with proceeds benefitting the Hilton Community Food Shelf.

Official Apple Fest Merch

Stop by the Merch Tent for Hilton Apple Fest T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, onesies, hand-made ceramic coffee mugs and more!

Corey’s Apple Pond

Everyone is a winner at the Apple Pond! Bring all the little ones to Corey’s Apple Pond to fish out an apple to keep - and win a prize! Afterwards, head over to Kids’ Korner for their favorite entertainers, furry animals and activities for all ages.

Schedule Of Events & Entertainment Celebrating 42Years 2024 Apple Fest

INSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER

Collector’s Sale

Browse a wide selection of sports cards, memorabilia, novelties, toys, die-cast models, action figures, comics and much more - all located in the Community Center Gymnasium by Marge Wyant.

Apple Pie Baking Contest

Stop by the Ingham Room to see the Apple Pie Baking Contest as it’s judged bright and early Saturday morning. The contest features Youth and Adult divisions. Pre-registration preferred, via hiltonapplefest.org.

Village Historian

Learn about the Apple Fest and so much more!

The Historian’s Office will be open to share their vast knowledge, along with an impressive display of Village of Hilton and Town of Parma history and lore.

Senior Lounge

Flu Shots by Wegmans Pharmacy will be available inside the Senior Lounge on Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm. Space for nursing mothers is available for those who wish to nurse in private.

PARKING INFORMATION:

Free festival parking is available at Hilton High School, 400 East Ave. Free shuttle service to the Apple Fest is available from 9:30am to 5:30pm on Saturday and 9:30am to 5:00pm on Sunday. Free Accessible Parking and Shuttle are also available at the High School.

If walking, the Apple Fest Grounds are located at 59 Henry St. There is ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING OR DROP-OFF at the Apple Fest grounds, or adjacent village streets. Violators will be towed at vehicle owner’s expense.

- PLEASE: NO ANIMALS, SKATES OR BIKES -

376 N. Goodman St., Rochester Contactus@ashforddanceco.com 417-6580

JAZZ, TAP, MODERN, BALLET, POINTE, IRISH, HIP HOP, TOTS PRE BALLET & TAP

67 Lyell Avenue Spencerport 352.9540

59 Henry Street Hilton 392.5988

Apple Fest

continued from page 10

As one can guess, it truly takes a village to make the Hilton Apple Fest happen. Matt Ulakovic, Hilton Apple Fest Board member, noted how many people volunteer at the Apple Fest.

“Our closest estimation is about 300 volunteers who help with many different tasks just to make the festival happen. They serve in our Apple Fest fundraiser booths, Corey’s Apple Pond, the info booth, with set up and take down, keeping the festival clean and beautiful, and so much more,” he said.

1pm

Website: www.ladanseworkshop.com • Email: contactus@ladanseworkshop.com

Trichia Bertino - Owner and Artistic Director • La Danse Workshop

The entertainment planned for this year’s HAF is a mix of local and regional musicians at four stages/areas. Watch dance students from LaDanse Workshop on Sunday, October 6, at 1 p.m. on the Blacktop stage. 47 South will perform two sets on Sunday on the Main Stage starting at 10 a.m. A full entertainment schedule can be found in this HAF special section.

Kids are encouraged to bring their parents and visit the Apple Fest Kids Korner, a place at the festival with activities and entertainment geared for children of all ages. And a tour of the Apple Fest would not be complete without a stop at Corey’s Apple Pond, where kids can fish for an apple and a prize. The Kids’ Korner area features a book giveaway and craft hosted by the Parma Public Library, digging for dinosaurs by the Parma Christian Church, and pony rides by Jade Cook. For a complete list of entertainment and activities, check out the listing in this HAF special section.

Parking for the HAF can be a challenge in and around the Hilton Community Center. To keep traffic moving, festival-goers are encouraged to park at Hilton High School on East Avenue. Shuttle buses will run throughout the weekend from Hilton High School.

org for information. This year’s Photo Contest has the theme of “Here Comes the Sun,” and features pictures of the sun. Awards will be presented on Saturday, October 5, at 4 p.m. on the Apple Fest Main Stage. Wegmans Pharmacy will offer flu shots in the Senior Lounge on Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A craft raffle and a Visa gift card raffle will be held during the festival weekend. The craft raffle winners will be drawn at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 6. The Visa Gift Card raffle will be drawn on December 2, 2024. The proceeds from these raffles support the Hilton Food Shelf and scholarships for graduating Hilton High School seniors. Official Apple Fest merchandise will be sold at the Apple Fest Merch Tent. This merchandise is unique in that each year a new logo is selected. A logo contest was held earlier in the year and a panel of community members, along with the previous year’s winner, judged the contest.

Ulakovic shared how the Apple Fest is important to the Village of Hilton.

OpEN DAily HilTON & WEBSTER

Visit our website: www.Mayerscorp.com

Old Fashion Cider Fry Cakes since 1962, apple Fritters, Blueberry Fritters, Brownies Cookies, store Cheese, 8”applesPies Only $8.98 & more

Don’t forget to stop inside the Hilton Community Center. That’s where a collector’s sale, an apple pie contest, photo contest, the Hilton Village Historian, and a senior lounge can be found. Peruse a wide selection of memorabilia, sports cards, toys and more. The Apple Pie Contest will be judged early Saturday morning and it has two divisions – youth and adult. Pre-registration is preferred, so if you are interested in entering your apple pie culinary creation, visit hiltonapplefest.

“The best part is the meaningful impact we all create by coming together as a community at the Apple Fest, from supporting local organizations like the Hilton Food Shelf and Hilton-Parma Community Council of Churches to our Apple Growers, who tirelessly carry on the heritage and tradition of our agricultural roots,” Ulakovic said. “It truly is a beautiful thing to see the joy everyone shares on Apple Fest weekend.”

Provided photos

A dog’s perspective

Celebrate Apple & Cider Fest

October 4-5 & 6

Pies • Fry Cakes • Sweet Cider Cider Slushies • Apple Pizza & much more! Grape Stomping on Sat. 1-5pm Live Music, Food & Fun

Classes Coming Soon: Winemaking, Beermaking, Hard Cider & more

Visit our site: https://www.Mayerscorp.com/classes or call: 585-368-8313 for dates and times.

Oktoberfest ~ October 19 & 20 German Food, Music, Beer, Wine & Cider

Every Saturday Night in Hilton or Webster “Tomahawk Steak Dinner” https://Mayerscorp.com/reservations/event-details Only $34.98 per person, $69.98 per couple Reservations required Friday Night Fish Frys (Hard Cider & Beer Battered) - Hilton & Webster

For your special event: Showers - Anniversaries - Holiday Parties go to our website for info

What does a dog think about the Apple Fest?

“Oh boy, we’re going for a walk. Oh no, they are taking me to the Apple Fest with all those feet around me. Well, we’re finally here and it sure smells good. I think I’ll try to snag that little boy’s hot dog. Oh wait, there is another dog eyeing it. He growled back at me. Should I give in or put up a fight? They are eating, when is it my turn? I sure could use a drink of water. I’m hot with this coat on. Great! I see a

grassy area where I can take care of business. Why is that little girl looking at me and crying? Not for nothing but the music hurts my sensitive ears. I think we’re heading on home now so I can take a nap because I’m stressed out and exhausted. If they had left me home in the first place I could have had my nap already and we could have some play time. Maybe next year I won’t have to go.”

Provided information

Kids cam fish for an apple and a prize at Corey’s Apple Pond.

LaDanse Workshop will be performing at the Apple Fest on Sunday at

Hilton Apple Fest awards scholarships to two Hilton High School grads

Craft Raffle tent. The drawing will be held on December 2. Provided information and photo

Hilton Alumni Association raffling two Bills tickets at Hilton Apple Fest

The Hilton Alumni Association (HAA) will be raffling two tickets for the

the New

on December 22 at Orchard

Raffle tickets are available now and will also be available at the HAA booth at the Apple Fest on October 5 and 6. Tickets are $5 for one or $20 for five. The winner will be drawn at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 6. One does not need to be present to win. Proceeds go to the HAA Grants and Scholarship Fund. For raffle information, email HiltonAlumniAssociation@ gmail.com. Provided information and photo.

Buffalo Bills game against

England Patriots

Park.