The Hilton Apple Fest was founded in 1981 by Hilton businessmen Patrick Marlow and Douglas Marple. Homer Marple of the former Marple Furniture financed the festival in its first year when it was organized by Carol Gursslin with just a handful of volunteers and held at Canning Street Square.
The purpose of the Apple Fest was to offer free family entertainment while celebrating the apple harvest season, the Hilton/Parma community, and the local apple growers. Thirty-five years later, the Apple Fest Committee has stayed true to that purpose.
The Original Zarpentine’s Farm Market will be on hand selling a large variety of apple products. The Zarpentine family participated in the creation of the World’s Biggest Apple Pie in the early 1980s.
The Apple Fest has grown to 125 crafters and 26 food booths, a Farmers Market with 13 vendors offering products from Western NY, plus 26 community groups. Entertainment includes local bands as well as dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations.
One of the reasons for Apple Fest’s success is the help it receives from approximately 300 volunteers. “What motivates a lot of us to participate in the Apple Fest is that we believe in the programs that it helps and so many of those programs help kids,” said volunteer Charlie Martella. “That’s what distinguishes the Apple Fest from other festivals. It has a greater purpose.”
The Hilton Apple Fest donates an average of $5,000 per year to local organizations and charities. Some of the past recipients have included the Hilton-Parma Emergency Food Shelf, Parma Public Library, Village of Hilton parks, Camp Good Days and Special Times, Parma Historical Society, Hilton High School Senior Bash, Braddock Bay Raptor Research, just to name a few.
Apple Fest attendees are being asked to bring a non-perishable food item or paper product to donate to the Hilton-Parma Emergency Food Shelf. Donation bins will be located near the shuttle bus stops, so there’s no need to carry donations while enjoying the festival. Basic food items, such as tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, pasta, sauce and soups, are most appreciated. Toilet paper, paper towels and tissues are also needed. Please do not donate expired items, home canned or processed foods, medicines, open items or alcoholic beverages.
The Hilton Apple Fest take place Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shuttle service is available from Hilton High School, 400 East Ave., and the Firemen’s Field on South Ave.
Read more about this local fall festival in the Westside News Inc. Hilton Apple Fest Special Section www.westsidenewsny.com/special-sections
prepared by Grace Griffee
for the Hilton Apple Fest Committee
