Apple Festival returns to Troy this weekend

The second annual Troy Apple Festival promises live music, educational demonstrations, kids activities, local produce and crafts and, of course, apples.

The Yaak Valley Forest Council and Troy Farmers Market sponsored event will take place on Friday from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., hosted by the Troy Farmers Market location in the Troy Museum parking lot.

The event celebrates the area’s rich history in apple growing.

Last year, the Troy Farmers Market wanted to show off their newly-acquired cider press to the public, and partnered with local vendors and the Yaak Valley Forest Council to create the Troy Apple Festival.

According to event organizer Shawna Kelsey, last year the festival hosted around 300 people and had 10 vendors. Kelsey is the Yaak Valley Forest Council conservation education coordinator, and said the event is aimed at combining education and fun-filled activities, while simultaneously providing local apple-tree owners with a sustainable way to dispose of bear-attracting apples.

“One of our goals is teaching people how to live with bears if you live in an area where there’s a danger,” Kelsey said.

Throughout the event, farmers market vendors and non-profit booths will stay open. The Afterschool Program will also have a booth all day to show off their skills in cooking demonstrations. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Smokey Bear will make an appearance along with the USFS Firesafe trailer. On top of Smokey Bear, all kids under the age of 18 will also have the chance to participate in a scavenger hunt until 5:30 p.m., which combines fun and education with interpretive bear signs along the way. From 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Yaak Valley Forest Council will offer free apple cider pressing for unsprayed apples; participants are asked to bring their own cider container. At 3:30 p.m., an hour-long kids’ storytime will be held, as well as bear spray training. Apple pies for the apple pie baking contest are due by 3:45 p.m., and judging apple pies will begin at 4 p.m.

To wrap up the festival, the Michelle Rivers Band will perform at 5:30 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. the raffle drawing will take place for bear-proof garbage can and scat belt for bear spray.

Raffle tickets for the bear-proof garbage can and scat belt are free. However, attendants will have to participate in three activities around the festival.