by Trish Rudder
Although it is months away, preparation for the 50th annual Apple Butter Festival has begun.
At the Town of Bath March 18 Council meeting, the local Chamber of Commerce’s Apple Butter Festival committee presented an agreement between the Town and the Chamber through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that includes street closures and placement of food trucks on Independence Street beginning Friday, October 10.
The festival is held on Columbus Day weekend in the Town of Bath and this year the dates are Saturday and Sunday, October 11-12.
Committee members Otis Carder and Terri Beard said before going forward with the preparation for the October event, the MOU spells out the roles and responsibilities of the two entities.
Chamber president Happy Rone said on Monday that the Fire Marshal wants all vendors to be 10 ft. apart, and the Food Court does not have that kind of space for all the food trucks.
Other than a smaller number of trucks spaced 10 ft. apart on the Food Court, Independence Street called “Food Truck Alley” will house the rest of the food trucks – also 10 ft. apart.
Independence Street will be closed at 2 p.m. so the Fire Marshal and Health Department can inspect all the food trucks Friday evening, the MOU said.
No food vendors will be allowed on Congress Street; only on Independence Street.
The town is to allow the festival to operate on the following streets and maintain closure during the event on Independence, Congress, Wilkes, Fairfax and Bath streets.
“The town police department will be utilized for the equipment to shut down the road and any manpower would be appreciated,” the MOU said.
The festival agrees to have adequate festival insurance removing liability for injuries on those streets during the festival on the festival insurance.
The festival also agrees to guarantee trash removal and clean-up after each day of the event. The festival will provide the necessary sanitary and restroom facilities.
The town will not allow parking on U.S. 522 during the festival.
The MOU was approved and accepted by the Town of Bath.
