By Taylor Boyd
The 24th annual Apple Dumpling Festival is set for Saturday, October 18, in downtown Stuart.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vendors setting up from 8-10 a.m.
Town Manager Bryce Simmons said late last month, about 70 vendors were registered to set up at the event.
“We usually start restricting about 100. Over the next month or so is when people really start to call in and request spots,” he said.
Vendors are still being accepted, and there is a $25 vendor fee.
Simmons said the turnout for the festival is heavily weather-dependent.
“Last year, I think that we probably had anywhere from 3,000 to 3,5000 people that passed through downtown. If the weather’s good, I would hope that we have that many people that come through town” for this year’s event, he said.
Live music sponsored by August Heat will be performed throughout the day. Elijah Smith and Levi Head “Bluegrass” will take the stage from 11-11:45 a.m. with Face 2 Face, a Christian Rock Band, following from 12-12:45 p.m. Marcie Horne and Company will perform from 1-1:45 p.m., and Warren, Bodle and Allen will play from 2-3:15 p.m.
In addition to the live music and vendors selling crafts, food, and other items, Simmons said there will be a free bobbing for books event at the Stuart Farmers’ Market.
“It’s part through the Reynolds Homestead and the West Piedmont Planning District Commission. I know that they are bringing in some children’s authors. I think it is part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and it is geared towards children and children’s books,” he said. That segment will be from 12-2 p.m.
The annual Apple Dumpling 5-K begins at 8 a.m. with registration at 7 a.m.
The cost for early registration is $30. To register, contact the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce at (276) 694-6012 or via email at director@patrickchamber.com.
