Traditions continue at annual Ruthven Apple Festival
- Fred Groves
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
The fall tradition continued this past weekend at the 46th Annual Ruthven Apple Festival.
Hosted at Colasanti’s and in support of Community Living Essex County (CLEC), it was once again a huge success.
“It was started by a group of families so they could purchase a school bus,” said CLEC director of marketing and innovation Julie LaSorda.
Since then, the Ruthven Apple Festival has become one of the main fundraisers for the purchase and maintenance of accessible vehicles.
Tradition is a big part of this event and that holds true for Dawn Dupuis who runs Momma Bears Bakery out of Kingsville and was busy serving up delicious apple pie and crumbles.
“I developed the recipe here at the Apple Fest when I was 12 years old and they had a pie-baking contest,” said Dupuis.
Dupuis said that her grandmother Jean Myles was a big supporter of CLEC and young Dawn would join her at the fall event.
Although she would not divulge any of the secret ingredients in her apple pie, Dupuis said that she had prepared 450 for hungry visitors.
The two-day event was highlighted on Saturday by the dignitary apple peeling contest and on Sunday hundreds of classic cars. There was live entertainment including Amherstburg’s Harbouring Illusions.
“The weather has been great and we had a record 119 craft vendors,” said LaSorda.
A big Farmer’s Market complete with lots of apples, food trucks and everything from wood carvings to candles to clothes were available.
Joe Colasanti was strolling the booths with Vera Wilkins and he said the Ruthven Apple Festival is now being supported by the fourth generation of his family.
“It’s something we do for the community. If we didn’t enjoy it, we wouldn’t do it.”
Community Living Essex County was founded in 1961 to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Traditions continue at annual Ruthven Apple Festival
By Fred Groves
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