The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Farmpark hosts Apple Butter and Cider Festival
The Lake Metroparks Farmpark Apple Butter and Cider Festival in Kirtland attracted visitors from all across Northeast Ohio on Oct. 1.
Mary Lashutka, who is a mother of two from Westlake, said they really like the events at the Farmpark, especially the Apple Butter and Cider Festival. “It’s great fun,” she said. Lashutka said her children participated in the corn maze, tried different apples, pressed the apples, tasted apple butter and played on the tractors.
The theme of the three-acre corn maze was “Alien Adventure” and the objective was to locate missing aliens throughout the maze.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark Event Manager Andy McGovern said the festival was all about family fun.
It was part of the tradition of celebrating the harvest season with a weekend all about apples.
In addition to the handson apple activities including grinding apples and pressing cider, visitors could enjoy various apple beverages at the “Corny Apple Bar.”
The apple bar featured frozen and hot apple cider.
There was also a kids area, toy tractors, harvest-themed crafts and tractor and horse-pulled wagon rides.
Four-year-old Finnian Culey of Cleveland Heights was excited about the tractors. He enjoyed riding on the peddle tractor.
Meanwhile, guests of all ages tried making apple butter and cider.
Grace Carter, a 17-yearold volunteer, said it takes about six hours of continuous stirring to make apple butter. The apple butter was made using an old-fashion technique in a copper kettle over an open fire.
McGovern said he was pleased with the turnout.
“It has been a busy,” he said.
The Apple Butter and Cider Festival is the second of four harvest weekends. Oct. 7-8 is the Corn and Pumpkin Festival.