-By Jessica Schultz-
One of the best parts of fall is that it’s apple season!! Delicious, tart and sweet apples galore. And the town of Busti, NY knows the perfect way to celebrate the bountiful harvest. Come on out to the 1839 Busti Grist Mill, Miller’s House and Busti Museum on September 25th from 11-5pm for the 48th Annual Bust Apple Festival. This is a rain or shine, family friendly event that will put some tasty joy into the start of the fall season. The Villager spoke with event coordinator Joni Blackman about this year’s festival and what it has to offer.
The Villager (V): The Busti Apple Fest is back again, what’s new for 2022?
Joni (J): “New this year – a majority, if not all, of the craft vendors will be on the historical campus acreage near the Miller’s house and the demonstration barn. The board of directors and volunteers have been working hard to install drainage and create a safer, dryer area for the vendors. At this point there are projected to be over 70 homemade craft vendors in the new area. Also new this year are 10, yes 10, food trucks! From Italian sausage and ribbon fries, to teriyaki, to deli and grilled sandwiches to cheese to wine slushies – all by the mill area of the campus.”
V: What is the cost of admission and where can tickets be purchased?
J: “Admission is only $5 per person, children under 12 are free. New this year is a gate admission, in the past admission has been paid as you parked, this time it’s as you walk in the gate.”
V: There are demonstrations and a re-enactment to be watched?
J: “While the Civil War reenactors will not be with us this year, we have 19 demonstrators coming. Demonstrations include: working a hand cider press, running an old-time wood shop, glass blowing, a beekeeper, a Civil War era surgeon and all his instruments, a hand quilting demonstration and the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society.”
V: Who are your craft vendors and what will they be offering?
J: “Our craft vendors will have everything from jewelry to homemade candles to woodcrafts and so much more.”
V: What type of food and beverages will be available?
J: “Besides our 10 food trucks with their delicious options, there will be apple cider and pies… It’s going to be a very tasty weekend.”
V: Anything else you would like to add?
J: “We are very excited to have the upgrades in place to use our entire campus by the historical buildings. We will have our famous pies – over 180 of them! Apples will be available by the bag, cider by the gallon and our country store. We have a farmer’s market that will feature many area farms and their produce: the list includes Spruce Donkey Flower Farm, Barbara’s Specialty Teas, the Herb Mill, Maple Run Country Farms, Big Tree Maple Farm and Aber’s Acres. Magic Moments Carriages will be back with carriage rides and pony rides. Our sponsors are Community Bank,Wilcox Brothers True Value, The Frewsburger Pizza and Ice Cream Shop, Geraci & Co, Inc., Buck Trucking and GJL Services.”
Thank you, Joni, for taking the time to share all this great information on the festival. More information on the event can be found on Facebook or by visiting bustihistoricalsociety.com.