No, I’m not talking Steve Jobs or any of the Apple products.  This is not some strange fetish nerd post about a party dedicated to various generations of the iPod, where people compare features, size, appearance and capacity.  If you read something else into these adjectives, then you are a pervert LOL

I’m actually writing a post about the actual fruit, the Apple, and how one particular area (village) has dedicated a full day to celebrate this delicious fruit.  At times it has been underrated, but sweet lord, there are so many amazing recipes for how to eat apples; devoured fresh off the branch stolen in some orchard, chopped/sliced and added to magical pastry or dough, served as juice, served as a warm godly nectar with Jack Daniels … and the list goes on.

We drove for what felt like hours to arrive in a quaint village in upstate New York called Warwick.  Every year they close down the village and somewhere between 30-50,000 people decent on the village to participate in the festivities.

As we arrived, the village was in lock down and the local sheriff had called in reinforcement from all neighbouring villages, probably hoping that the local apple gangs would get into a dreaded apple battle.  I kid you not, the SWAT truck was parked not too far from the main area, and each access road was manned by several bulgy army haircut tall dudes, dressed in the latest police fashion.

Slowly we made our way towards the main area and were greeted with a Beastie Boys sound-alike rap duo, which I didn’t particularly associated with an applefest.  But, whatever is needed to draw in visitors.

I (we) were somewhat surprised with the lack of actual apple creations.  We had sort of hoped for a true applefest where every stall was dedicated to some strange and yet tantalising apple creations, perhaps even a few people dressed up like apples handing out apples to the kids.  Instead, the majority of stalls were selling homemade jewellery, paintings (not of apples), wood carvings, posters, pickles, hotdogs, meats and of course plenty of music and beer.

There wasn’t much for the kids really, other than a bit of face painting and some knitted hats; and of course the huge variety of food.

Oh, I did forget to add that the local supermarket chain was selling apple cider.  It would probably have been better if it was a farmer who sold it, but at least it contained apple coloured and flavoured water.

In total, we spent just as much time at the applefest as it took us to get there by car.  We didn’t spend much money, other than a few overpriced apple tarts and a cup of coffee.  It was still a nice afternoon with the family and we will probably come back next year.  I just need to grow a more impressive beard and get some ink on my forearms, then we’ll fit straight in 🙂

What’s your favourite apple creation?