AppleFest! a sweet celebration
FESTIVITIES SET FOR SATURDAY AT GALT GARDENS
They’re juicy, crunchy and packed with vitamin C. They’re also the most wasted and thrown out fruit. Everything you can do with apples will be celebrated at the Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association’s fifth annual AppleFest! celebration Saturday at Galt Gardens.
But it’s not all about apples. According to their Facebook page, their goal is “to connect people with ‘greener’, more sustainable businesses, as well as the skills, knowledge and hands-on ways to live a more regenerative lifestyle.”
Organizers believe AppleFest! 2017 is shaping up to be their largest celebration yet, and they hope to inspire different ways to reduce our impact on the planet. The “fruit rescue program” has been picking fruit for several weeks in preparation.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the public can enjoy the opening ceremonies, live music and entertainment, food, learning tents and beer gardens. There will be an apple press on site to fresh press and pasteurize juice. Visitors can bring their own jar or learn how to press the apples.
A variety of learning tents with hands-on activities and workshops will also be set up. They include how to make your own apple cider vinegar, herb drying/tea making, creating zero waste, how to make your own kombucha, seed saving, DIY reusable menstrual products, hoopla hooping lessons and more. Sweet grass bison will be presenting on natural prairies and the role/importance of the bison in restoration.
There will also be two kids activity tents — one run by the Helen Schuler Nature Centre and the other by the AppleFest! committee. Kids will have the opportunity to make a reusable Tshirt bag and take home a tree/plant to plant for themselves, as well as make crafts and use old-fashioned building items.
The live entertainment lineup includes Shayne Marie, Tyra Whitson, Dark Wrangler/In Cahoots, Peace Hoopla, Gabriel T. Olsen, Beyond Crimson, The Steve Keenan Blues Band, Jolene Draper Trio, Coda and Adequate.
Vendors will be onsite selling locally made goods. The Purple Carrot will have refill stations available for hand soaps, laundry soap, shampoos and conditioners to further reduce your impact. Bring your own jars. They will also have cold fresh steeped tea kombucha on tap for refills.
The Stoketown Cafe and Urban Grocer will be providing locally sourced and prepared foods. There will also be a family friendly Apple Beer Tent, provided by Pogo Brothers, that will include “root beers” for the little ones.
BikeBridge Lethbridge is offering a bike service rack to encourage outdoor exercise and less use of fossil fuels, as well as providing an information table.
Goddess Inc. will set up in the Red Tent for women's circle and they will be hosting a short workshop on reusable menstrual products.
The family friendly festival runs until 8 p.m.
For volunteer opportunities or more information, please email applefestlethbridge@gmail.com.
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