The crisp September days of sunshine and warmth with cool nights following, have caused the leaves to begin to change. All around us are the brilliant colours of autumn in Southern Ontario~ Oranges, Reds, Pinks, Bugundys, Yellows and a myriad of shades inbetween. Fall is in the air and with it comes the annual Brighton Applefest !
This coming weekend the Brighton Applefest celebrates it's 33rd 
year.
When I was a child , growing up in Trenton Ontario, my town was surrounded by orchards.
Many summer days were spent riding bareback through the apple orchards and every harvest season farm workers flew in from the Caribbean to work in the harvesting.
My Father was the plant manager of a large manufacturing facility whose specialty was juices and apple juice was their main product. My summer holidays when I was in high school and saving to go to university, were spent working in his plant on the lines bottling and canning the pungeant fresh juice. Truckload after truckload of apples would arrive, all to be pressed and made into the finest juice available.
Most of those orchards are gone now as room was made way for housing developments and stores like Walmart.
The traditions began back then still survive, though, and there are still many apple farms around the Brighton/Trenton area and in Prince Edward County. My Mother always picked a bushel of apples in the fall and we would be treated with homemade apple crisp and pies for months as winter settled in. Fall and apples just naturally go together. Like the old saying goes ' Apple pie without cheese, is like a kiss without a squeeze....'.
In Brighton the festivities will run all weekend long beginning on Thursday and ending Sunday afternoon.
All weekend long there will be a midway behind the arena (beginning Thursday which is loonie and toonie night) .
Memory Junction will be open from 10 am to 4 pm daily and on Sunday the Junction will feature music by Country Strummers and the Dixie Band during the day. At 7:45pm there will be a Ghost Walk through Brighton.
At Proctor House Museum, the Proctor Simpson Barn will be featuring 'Peggy and Grace' Live Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and on Sunday at 2 pm.
A juried art show will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday at E.N.S.S. Gala night is Friday night from 7-9 (with refreshments being served)~tickets are $10 at the door. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday when the show will be open beginning at 10 am.
Some Highlights of the Weekend Include:
Saturday Sept 29
- Pancake Breakfast 8am at Main and Proctor Streets
- Annual Fun Run 9am at E.N.S. Sponsored by the Brighton Fire Dept., Northumberland County Paramedics and O.P.P $20 or under 14 $15
- Proctor House Museum~ Open from 10am-4pm for tours of this beautiful 1860 Heritage Mansion. Apple Pie an cheese
and ice cream will be for sale.
- Street Fair~10 am-4pm on Main Street with Apples, Homemade Baking, Food vendors, Crafts, Activities, and more!
- Car Show ~ A Show and Shine will be held at Brighton Public School from 10 am - 4 pm with prizes, plaques, and entertainment. Food booth available.
- At the Gazebo the E.N.S.S. Choir and RazzMaJazz will be playing from 10-11am and 11:30-12:45. From 1-2pm The Melodeers will entertain and from 3-4 pm The Marcatos ~A capella will entertain.
- Opening Ceremonies will be on the Main Stage
in front of the Post Office at 11am.
- Annual Applefest Parade begins at 2pm.
- Beer Garden all day at Main and Proctor (weather permitting)
- Wonders of the Sky at Brighton Public School from 12pm-5pm and 8-10pm.
- There will be a giant buffet dinner at the curling club from 4-6:30. This is an 'All You Can Eat' event . Adults $12 and children 8 and under are free. Purchase advance tickets at Ray's Lotto, Balfour's Convenience, and Brighton Florist. Tickets can also be bought at the door.
- Dance at the Brighton Arena from 8pm-1am . Live band 'Ambush' . Tickets are $15 and proceeds go to Brighton and District Minor Hockey
- FIREWORKS behind the arena at dusk. Bring your blanket and your lawn chairs and your bag of oohs and aaahs.
Sunday Sept 30
- Pancake Breakfast 8-10am served by the Kin Club
- Art and Crafts Show and Sale 10am-5pm at King Edward Park Arena
- Retriever Demonstrations at Brighton Public School by the Eastern Ontario Lab Breeders Association 11am-2pm
- Gospel Concert at Memorial Park from 2:30-3:30pm. Bring your lawn chairs.
We look forward to seeing all of the out of town guests who attend this event annually and all newcomers to our beautiful region. This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to take part in the celebration of a long standing tradition...the harvest of the apples !
See you there !! 
Copyright2007JoSmith
Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com |
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Good Evening Jo,
Sounds like this is going to be a great festival with lots of activities for everyone, a great family outing for sure. Your post is certainly inviting.
I wish lots of success to the organizers and sponsors.