Did you know that the Hilton Apple Fest only allows local not-for-profit groups as food vendors, doesn’t take any commission from the food sales and only allows a particular food to be sold by one vendor so there are no duplicate offerings? “The Apple Fest is totally community based,” said Charlie Martella, who assists with four food booths – Boys Scout Troop 125, Cub Scout Pack 330, Hilton Winter Drumline and Climbing for Christ. “One way or another, if you’ve lived in this community, you’ve benefited from the Apple Fest. The money goes right back into the community.”
The array of foods offered at the Apple Fest is a draw for crowds of people every year. For example, Boy Scout Troop 125 is selling chicken fajitas, authentic potato pancakes with chunky applesauce, Buffalo-style chicken sausage, Apfelpfannkuchen – a German apple pancake, and breakfast burritos. Cub Scout Pack 330 is offering caramel apples and grilled chicken sandwiches. Hilton Winter Drumline will be selling funnel cakes and hush puppies/corn fritters that can be purchased with caramel apples and whipped cream on top. And Climbing for Christ will have barbecued pulled pork sandwiches, walking tacos, smoothies and hot caramel cider.
“We’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to raise money through the Apple Fest,” said Martella. He explained that for the Boy Scouts, the funds help run the program so that any individual fund raising the boys do can be put into their own accounts to pay for camps and equipment, for example. Climbing for Christ members use their funds to pay for missionary trips where they climb peaks and mountains in remote areas around the world to minister to the communities there. Hilton’s World Champion Winter Drumline participates in the Apple Fest to raise funds for costumes, equipment and travel expenses for competitions.
Again this year, the food vendors will be interspersed throughout the Apple Fest, like other area festivals, rather than having them all in one location. For several years prior to last year, the old food aisle was so muddy that people could not get to the food booths. “Last year there was quite a bit of nervousness by the food groups due to the change in the field layout,” said Rick Bjornholm, who oversees the food vendors and apple growers. “The change was made to allow attendees to stand on blacktop or concrete when purchasing food. This required a change to the electrical infrastructure – no small task.”
This year, a few adjustments were made so that all of the food vendors should get traffic to their booths. Visitors are encouraged to pick up a free brochure at the Information Booth as they walk in so that they are able to find their favorite food booths and check the guide printed in this special section.
prepared by Grace Griffee
for the Hilton Apple Fest Committee
