Sunday October 11 (Apple Butter Fest, Grand Rapids OH)

We were up fairly early today and on the rad by 8.30 am. Our destination was the Apple Butter Fest, Grand Rapids, OH. 

Lisa's friend Shirley was our driver and we also picked up a friend of hers, Gloria, along the way. It was a gorgeous day although very cool to start with.

We had a good run through until we were passing through Ridgeville Corners where Shirley collected a speeding ticket. It was deserved but, boy, he took a very long time to write up the ticket. This was after he said he would have us on our way as quickly as possible, lol!!



When we arrived it was not yet 10 am, the official starting time, but the parking lot we went to was very full. The cars are parked in four different areas outside the town and buses run continuously to take people in. 


It was already very crowded and most stalls were open and well under way. We went into a restaurant, La Roes, to partake of their buffet breakfast. 

After that, I went off on my own to explore. I have been to Grand Rapids but when it is not this busy. There were stalls along the centre of the road as well as, in some places, along the verges or filling up open spaces. When I reached the one end I stopped and listed to a female group of five sing "The Rose", one of my favourite songs.

I then wandered back to the opposite end, some way away, and got caught up in some queues that were making forward motion impossible, lol! It is strange the way people behave in large crowds, they still wander along in groups and make it difficult for others, lol!! 

When I reached the opposite end I returned to cross one of the bridges across the river and viewed the enactments of earlier times, with lots of tents along the river. Many of the people were dressed up as soldiers from various times and there were many muskets and other firearms being fired, they do make a noise, lol!! It was quite safe as they were fired across the river!

I then discovered that my friends were back at La Roes, enjoying some refreshments so I made my way and joined them. They were serving angry Orchard Cider so I was quite happy!! i stayed on when my friends left to finish viewing stalls they had not yet seen.

Eventually we left to catch the bus back to the car but there was a huge queue so I went on while they collected some purchases from a shop where they had left them. After a wait of about half an hour we finally made the front of the queue and it was not long until we were in the car and headed home. No tickets this time and we were home in good time. I did not take many pictures as it was soooo crowded!!


I love Grand Rapids but not with that many people, I was pleased I went to experience it but once was enough for me, lol!!!