Arts, crafts, food, music, games, entertainment and fun will be in ample supply this weekend, October 6-8 in Berkeley Springs as the 48th annual Apple Butter Festival returns.
Admission to the festival is free, and there are several free parking options on the outer edges of the festival area, with free shuttles into the center of town.
On Friday, October 6, the festival will begin with a block party on Mercer Street, from 5 to 9 p.m. Music, food and drink will be on offer for those arriving to town for the main event.
The festival kicks off Saturday, October 7 with the annual parade at 9 a.m. from Berkeley Springs High School to the Bath Train Depot. This year’s theme is “Morgan County Welcomes You” and the Grand Marshals for the parade will be the winners of the Chamber of Commerce Community Spirit Awards for 2023. Dozens of community businesses and organizations will show off their local spirit as floats in the parade.
Festival booths and the food court will open Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. and remain open until 6 p.m.
Throughout the festival, the Greenwood Community Center will be making apple butter – the reason for the festival – on the west side of Fairfax Street. The public is invited to watch the process and help stir the kettles.
On Saturday, live music and performances will fill Berkeley Springs State Park and the lot behind the courthouse.
The public is invited to enter festival contests, from the Baking Contest to the Beard & Mustache Contest to the Duck Race in the park on Saturday, and on Sunday, the Egg Toss and Hog Calling Contest.
Sunday’s festival will officially kick off at 10 a.m. Prior to that, Union Chapel will offer a Service by the Springs, starting at 9 a.m. Music and performances will continue all day Sunday.
Just before the 2023 festival closes at 5 p.m., the Morgan County-Berkeley Springs Chamber of Commerce will draw the winning ticket for the Apple Butter Festival quilt, made by Jane Frenke.
