Apple Butter Festival
By Korynn Bowers
The annual Apple Butter Festival in Raphine, VA commenced on Oct. 16. Wade’s Mill has been hosting this event for 25 years and prides themselves on their authentic and natural flours and other baking mixes. People from all over Virginia gather together to visit booths, eat delicious food, and enjoy the beginnings of fall.
The drive through Raphine was filled with breathtaking autumn colors, providing the perfect setting for the Apple Butter Festival. The second you walk into the festival, you are immediately hit with the smell of fresh apple cider doughnuts, apple butter brewing, and freshly baked bread. The beautiful mill is the first thing you see and adds to the antique and rugged feel of the festival.
Many small businesses participated in the event, counting up to at least 25 booths. Live country music set the scene for attendees to explore the incredible businesses. Products sold insured something for everyone. The most exquisite jewelry, handcrafted with copper wire. Hand-dried dog treats are sure to make your pup leap for joy. Fresh flowers for your significant other or a friend in need of a pick-me-up. Fresh handmade soap for the perfect addition to your kitchen or bathroom, leaving your hands feeling soft and smelling delicious. Apples straight from the orchard are the best for the fall classic; apple pie.
Of course, you couldn’t leave without trying a sample of the famous apple butter on a piece of homemade french bread. Every year employees of Wades’ Mill stew apple butter in an over-century-old copper pot. You can buy the apple butter in the mill along with freshly ground flour, pancake mixes, and local honey.
Next year, check out the annual Apple Butter Festival and experience fall in a new way.
