Since 1976, the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival brings the community together to raise funds for local projects and facilities while celebrating local foods.
![Committee chair Bob Reid has been involved with the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival for more than 30 years. [Scott Barber / The Observer]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/post_news_abc.jpg)
With its familiar blend of music, tours, shows and food, the event draws up to 40,000 patrons each year, raising an average of $20,000.
The success is a testament to the volunteers and service clubs who donate their time to setting up the event and manning the booths, notes festival committee chair Bob Reid.
“We are lucky that the Lions Club, The Board of Trade and the churches continue to want to support us,” he said. “They don’t say, ‘we want to do something that we can raise money for and that we can distribute.’”
Instead, everyone unites towards a common goal.
“It is important that all of the money we raise goes back into this community,” Reid explained. “We try to fund major renovations to the community centre, the arena and the ball parks. And now there are plans to renovate the tennis courts and I think our festival will be behind funding some of that.”
He continued, “We often take on more than one project at the same time, so we spread out (the funding) over four or five years with (Wellesley) council.”
The festival kicks off with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. September 27 on Queen’s Bush Road. The ABC Friendly 5 km walk or run goes at 9:30 a.m. from Wellesley Public School, and tours of the A.W. Jantzi Apple Butter and Cider Mill run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ABC staples like the tour of Hogendoorn dairy farm will take place throughout the day, as will the craft and vendor marketplace, and the classic car and tractor shows.
“It remains a great place for families,” said Reid. “There are plenty of fun activities, and some great entertainment.”
Bands will play all day long on the main stage, culminating with the Wellesley Idol finals at 2 p.m.
Scott Carare, Ella Nafzier and Ben Cottrill dazzled the crowd during the Wellesley-North Easthope Fall Fair, and each youngster will sing for a chance at the $500 first prize, donated by the ABC committee.
The festival will run rain or shine.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed that the weather is nice,” Reid said. “With any festival, the weather makes a huge difference in terms of turnout. For the sake of the volunteers who put in so much time and effort, we always hope the weather is pleasant.”
Parking and admission are both free. Funds are raised through booth fees for market vendors and through the sale of apple cider, fritters, sausages and the like.
