Annual Apple Butter Days Fall Festival
Lake of the Ozarks
Have you ever heard of a celebration for apples and apple butter? I am sure you have not! There can no place in the world, except the Ozarks, where they can celebrate simple things like apple butter!
Come fall and there is a big line up of festivals and celebrations at the Lake of the Ozarks. One of the most eagerly anticipated events during fall is the Annual Apple Butter Days Fall Festival. The apple butter prepared by the people of the Ozarks is considered to be the most delicious. Each year, innumerable people head to this place during this event, to get a glimpse of how apple butter is made the traditional way by the natives of this place. This is one recipe that you will not be able to learn in any culinary class.
One of the key highlights of the festivities is the getting together of the volunteers, natives and visitors to prepare apple butter. Every aspect of the preparation is done the traditional way. A large copper kettle, just like the ones that were used in the bygone era, is used to make lots of apple butter during this two day celebration. The entire process involves peeling of apples, chopping them up into pieces, stirring them in the large kettle and jarring them.
Close to a dozen bushels of apple are used to prepare apple butter during the celebrations at the Ozarks. The apple butter thus prepared will be sold to everyone present during the event. You will have to pay $3 for a pint of apple butter and $5 for a quart. For the health conscious people, there is an option of sugar free apple butter too. Apple pies, frozen and freshly baked ones, also sell like hot cakes during the festivities.
But the event does not involve eating apple and apple butter alone. There are a number of food booths that are set up at the Ozarks. Chili, in addition to, corn bread and homemade soup are also very famous at the Ozarks. You will find a variety of desserts also being served in these food booths. Though it seems that all that one can do during the two day event is eat, it is not necessarily so.
A large number of craftsmen set up their booths during the Annual Apple Butter Days Fall festival and put up their artifacts for sale. You can also find handmade quilts, knitted items, holiday decorations and many more at throw away prices during these celebrations. The money generated during the festivities will be donated to the Camden County Museum for its upkeep.
If you want to be a part of the 14th Annual Apple Butter Days Festival, then, block your calendar on the 8th and 9th of October, 2010 and head to the Lake of the Ozarks for the two day festivities. The celebrations are on from 9am to 4pm. For more information you can contact the Camden County Museum at (573) 346-7191. You can also send an email to staff@camdencountymuseum.com for more details.
