Apple Butter Festival

Event Details

Rileys at Los Rios Rancho pays tribute to tradition with its annual Apple Butter Festival Thanksgiving weekend.

Pioneer families made a custom of gathering in late fall to cook up apple butter from the last of the season's crop. It was a practical way to preserve the apples throughout the year and a pleasurable way to preserve community spirit.

Families are invited to come up and share in this fine old tradition, which includes a hands-on demonstration of apple butter making the old-time (and slow!) way - outdoors in a big copper kettle. Guests can learn how to "start the snitz" and "add the money", plus enjoy pioneer crafts and games, music, carriage rides, and lots more.

Saturday's events include the "Lighting of the Ranch" at dusk, when the giant pines at the Los Rios Rancho entrance will be illuminated to welcome in the
Christmas season. An old-fashioned hoedown Saturday night will feature music by the Riley's Mountaineer Band.

The Festival is 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Festival admission
is free (small fees for some activities). Tickets are required for Saturday night's hoedown, and include a supper of Pumpkin Bread and Harvest Soup.

For information, or to purchase hoedown tickets, log on to www.losriosrancho.com or call (909) 797-1005.