Find a Delicious Taste of History at the Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival

In a season of pumpkin spice everything, the apple often plays second fiddle to everyone’s favorite gourd. But for apple aficionados whose palates want something more sophisticated than jams and jellies, autumn means just one thing – apple butter season!

For those who love the sweet and aromatic spread, only hand-crafted, local butter will make it to their breakfast table. And one of the best places to stock up is at the renowned Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival on October 25 and 26 - where you’ll not only find the best apple treats, but can spend the day shopping, playing and eating with the entire family in this quaint Missouri river town, just 25 minutes from St. Louis.

In the 1970’s, the Kimmswick Historical Society began crafting apple butter from scratch, using a family recipe handed down through generations, to raise funds in their efforts to preserve the historical integrity of the town. As residents flocked to get their hands on the jars, a few craft booths and activities were added to the festivities.

Over the past 30 plus years, the event has exploded – welcoming more than 600 food, craft and merchandise booths and 100,000 guests to downtown Kimmswick every year.

“The biggest highlights of the Festival today are all the different kinds of vendors, every type of festival food you can imagine, and people from every walk of life,” said Connie Schmitt, Festival chairman. “The famous apple butter is always sold out by the end of the weekend.”

While apple butter making is the main pull to the event, the town has gone above and beyond to make it completely family-friendly.

Throughout the event, traveling clowns will walk through the town, treating kids to animal balloons and magic tricks. In addition, your little ones can jump inside the bounce houses, meet a new furry friend at the petting zoo, and play cowboy on the pony rides. In addition, HiTadah, the famous top-spinning artist will perform, and the Rock Community Fire District will offer fingerprinting and candy to every child who stops by.

New this year for kids is the Bump N Roll attraction, where they can step inside an inflatable ball to walk, run and jump on water.

The Apple Butter Festival also features great musical entertainment all weekend long. Bluegrass bands headline the main stage on Saturday while rock-n-roll is on schedule for Sunday. For those who want to become stars themselves, a DJ and karaoke booth is available by the City Hall.

For the town of Kimmswick, the event is not only the time to have some good-old fashioned family fun, but introduce out-of-towners to this historical Missouri getaway.

Remarked Schmitt, “We hope that families enjoy their time and come back after the Festival to visit our usually quiet little town – to shop, eat at our restaurants and enjoy their day. We want them to have some quality family time without spending a week’s pay on food and drink.”

And of course, leave with a couple pints of the sweet spread to get through the winter season.

The Apple Butter Festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 25 and 26 in downtown Kimmswick. Guests are encouraged to park at Windsor School on Highway 61/67 to catch a shuttle to the festivities. You may also park off Highway K and take a short walk into town.

For more information, visit www.visitkimmswick.com or www.cityofkimmswick.org

Photos: Visit Kimmswick Facebook page