TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - The sweet scent of a local community’s pride and joy is filling the air. This Sunday, thousands will pour into Grand Rapids, Ohio, for the 48th annual Applebutter Festival, which is truly comfort food for the history-lover’s soul.
Volunteers in Grand Rapids have a big job on their hands. But their hard work is the core of the festival that turns a quiet street into a sea of heads.
Chuck Thomas has worked at the Applebutter Festival in some capacity for decades. And since 2009, he has been co-chair.
Thomas said the festival itself has not changed much over time and that is by design.
“We’ve added different events, demonstrators and things like that, but we try to keep it pretty consistent with the history of the Maumee Valley,” Thomas said.
That history is centered on this yummy concoction.
“It was always tradition in the fall for farm families and church groups, whatever, to gather apples at the end of the year and make apple butter as a preserve for the winter,” Thomas said.
And the celebration of that tradition draws 25 to 30,000 people each year.
“I think one of the reasons we like doing it is to focus and showcase the businesses that are here year-round.
One of those businesses is A Drop of Honey, owned by Emily Householder.
“I never knew this town existed until I married my husband,” Householder said. “Actually, we opened like four days before my first Applebutter Festival.”
That was 13 years ago and now, her sweet little shop is one of many local businesses that attract visitors from around the globe.
“It’s huge. I will have people come back after Applebutter, who either did shop in here briefly or it was too crowded, so they come back afterwards,” Householder said.
Thomas said it warms his heart to see how much people enjoy the day, churned out by so many volunteers who do the job gladly.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of moving pieces going on, but people enjoy it, they just like doing it,” Thomas said. “It’s very fulfilling, I think.”
The festival this Sunday is a fundraiser for the historical society, which funds various school and community activities throughout the year. And it is meant to be a day for the full family.
For more information about the Applebutter Festival, click here.