AppleFest

Apples on a stick!  Applefest was actually over a week ago, but all of last week was incredibly insane, and I didn’t post anything here for days.  It’s time to catch up a bit.  We were super blessed that Grandma Kathy came to stay at our house, and she was here for Applefest.  Grandma Kathy enjoys Applefest a lot.  We traveled to Bayfield on Sunday, and the weather was amazing.  One of the great things about Applefest, is that the food stands are mostly in the same places year after year.  We have our routine down!  Sweet Sailing caramel apples are usually one of the first stops.  Also on the list for my food lovers are:  cheese curds, apple brats, and corn dogs.  I’m not a big fan of most of those foods (although I purposely refrain from the cheese curds which are incredibly delicious).  I usually eat one thing at Applefest:  an apple crisp torte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  It’s fantastic.

Before the parade started we zipped around looking at things.  Grandma Kathy likes the craft booths.  I headed into a couple of my favorite Bayfield shops, and found an awesome winter hat and a great pair of mittens.  Most of the family was still busy walking and looking around, but I was pretty done with the crowd.  It doesn’t take long for me to be done with the crowd.  YaYa and I headed back to our parade watching spot and people watched until the parade started.  

For me Applefest is all about the apple torte and the marching bands in the parade.  We saw the smallest girl carrying a gigantic sousaphone in one band, and standing not far away was an even smaller girl playing the trombone.  I almost wondered how she could slide all the way out to play!  One creative band played the theme from Star Wars, and several band members were dressed in costume.  At one point the band split and there was a  bit of light saber drama.  The Star Wars fans in our family were seriously impressed.

Mr. SP wants to make that silver costume for Halloween.  

Mr. Trouble on Feet really wanted to be this small sword clad marching mascot.  It would be pretty much the perfect job for him.  In fact, since he’s been back home he’s dressed up in his marching band costume and donned a cape and hat.  

And of course, next to the bathtub brigade, a parade staple, there’s always this wagon with older gentlemen playing rousing brass music.  They are actually very good, and nearly always accompanied by dancing grandma apples in costumes.  They always appear in the parade, and the kidlets are always on the lookout for them.  So fun!

After the parade we headed to the apple orchard to buy a large supply of apples.  I have a lot of applesauce to make.  The honeycrisp apples are especially delicious this year.