For the past two years, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church’s Applefest Committee has had to alter the Applefest routine. In 2021, the church was held at a 1,000 person limit; despite this, the church raised $110,000. For 2022, the festival will be a bit different with limits raised and more traditional carnival festivities for the families. 

According to Tri County Times, Applefest will be back to its regular routine this year and will continue with numerous activities: the Applefest chicken dinner, the apple pie auction, farmers market, craft booths and more. The rides, games and concessions are provided by Skerkback Family Carnival. To top it off, it is the 50th anniversary of the festival and special events including the different dinners, the road race, the 5k and pie judging are planned throughout each day of the fest. The Applefest committee has also announced new additions to the festival. 

“We are most excited to provide some new features— such as five food trucks and craft vendors,” Festival Chair Miriam Sage said. “The raffle is an important aspect of the festival. There will be a car or cash prizes, but new and exciting this year is a three-year lease for a Chevy Blazer that is being donated by Vic Canever Chevrolet.” 

This festival brings an abundance of people to the area each year— the 45th annual festival brought over 30,000 to Fenton— to enjoy the beginning of fall and the festivities the event has to offer. With the 2020 festival being canceled and the 2021 festival looking much different than locals were accustomed to,  festival-attendees are looking forward to the more routine festival this year.. 

“I’m really excited for Applefest. It’s a good way to hang out with friends and enjoy probably the last couple warm days before the fall weather comes,” sophomore Luke Rittenger said. “I’m hoping they bring the Gravitron and the Himalaya rides back to Applefest this year because those are my favorite rides. I’m excited about the pie raffles this year because the last time I went to the Applefest, my friend and I got two free pies of our choice.”

Each day of the fest there are different events the visitors can attend that makes Applefest unique. For more information about the festival, visit https://www.stjohnfenton.org/applefest.html.