The Festival

The Applebutterfest

This year on the second Sunday of October, just as it has for the last 31 years, the tiny village of Grand Rapids, 25 miles southwest of Toledo, will host its annual Applebutter Fest. Visitors will witness accurate portrayals of life as it was lived along the Maumee River a century or more ago. The Front Street business district, beginning at Howard Cemetery and continuing past the Town Hall, is transformed into a corridor of early American attractions.

Applebutter is the fest’s main feature. Three 50 gallon copper kettles are cooked in the Village Park during the festival. Townsfolk and guests make the applebutter near the restored Town Hall. More than 1,400 pints of applebutter are ready for sale when the fest opens with another 1,400 jars being prepared the day of the fest. Anyone wanting to stir and experience the camaraderie around the kettles as neighbors did years ago is welcome.

In addition to the applebutter making, the downtown is filled with a variety of demonstrations and events which will make visitors feel like they are taking a step back in time. The Town Hall Park hosts pioneer skills demonstrations including blacksmithing, tole painting, bobbin lace making, and tatting lace. There is also a birds of prey exhibit, a voyageur camp life demonstration, and candle dipping.

Along the towpath visitors will find living history demonstrations including military groups, mountainmen, and Civil War and pioneer re-enactors. Many of the re-enactors spend Saturday night camped along the Maumee River and are eager to share stories about pioneer life.

Several stages are set up in the downtown area for musical entertainment. Performers throughout the day include bands, folk and other musical groups, barbershop groups, and the Linenkugle Dulcimer Group. There are also magicians and other entertainers performing throughout the day.

For the youngest visitors, pony rides are offered at the log cabin. There is also a children’s activity area sponsored by the Grand Rapids Area Art Council.

The Grand Rapids Historical Society, proud sponsor of the Applebutter Fest, uses funds raised from this event to promote pride in the community. Projects of years past have included the Log Cabin Information Area, extensive maintenance of the historic Town Hall, the brick walkway on Lincoln Street, and the maintenance of Bluebell Island.

The only admission fee to the Applebutter Fest is the parking fee. The money is used to pay for parking lot rent and maintenance, free bus shuttle rides, traffic control officers and payments to the organizations which man the parking operations.

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Would you really like to learn how the apple butter is made? Did you ever wonder where those first 1,400 pints of applebutter come from? Come out the the annual BIG STIR! Each year a large group of people from the area join together in a massive effort to prepare applebutter for the coming festival. Starting at 8 a.m. and finishing up at around 4 p.m., the day is filled with busy folks cooking, stirring and canning four large kettles of applebutter. A potluck lunch is enjoyed at noon. This is a great time to see community spirit at its best and enjoy a beautiful autumn day in the country. We encourage the public to come and join in the cooking, stirring and canning process. This year the BIG STIR will be on Saturday September 26. Come out and join us!