Apple Fest returned to Long Grove for three consecutive days, from Sept. 20 through Sunday.
Weather for most of the annual festival in downtown Long Grove was hot and sunny. Sunday had rain and according to https://www.longgrove.org/festival/apple-fest/, all entertainment was canceled for Sept. 22. There was no gate fee on Sunday at the typically paid entry event.
Because of the rain to conclude the festival, Ryan Messner of Barrington, Long Grove business owner and Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association (HDLGBA) president, estimated attendance this year over the three days between 10,000 to 15,000 people.
About the attractions, “We always keep on mixing it up, music, activities,” Messner said. “It’s family-friendly. The one thing you’re going to have when you come to Long Grove is you know you’re going to have a good time for all ages, whether you’re five years old or you’re 80 years old, there’s something for everyone.
“And that’s what we try to do, we want the experiences for everyone to enjoy,” Messner said.
Apple offerings included the opportunity to purchase apples but also to try apple-inspired and infused cuisine.
There were deep-fried apples and apple cider donuts. Add to that apple sangria at the Long Grove Lions Club booth. The sangria recipe featured Jonathan apples, giving it, “a little bit of a sour,” taste to it, said mixologist Mike Kaitson of Lindenhurst.
“It’s very tasty,” Kaitson said.
The carnival portion of the festival was busy with families midday Saturday despite near 90-degree temperatures.
The carousel, dragon roller coaster and kiddie roundabout sparkling vehicle ride were choices by the Miazga family of Arlington Heights.
Sara Miazga, 6, a first-grader, exchanged a thumbs-up with her parents Matt and Kristen Miazga. Sibling Kailey, 2, went on rides accommodating smaller children with sister Sara.
“We love Apple Fest,” Kristen Miazga said. “We always have so much fun here.”
Families sat in the shade in front of the Fountain Square Stage where animal handler Jeremy Taulbee of Lockport presented Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles show.
Taulbee started the show by bringing out Bluey, a green iguana. Reptiles shown to the audience included a python snake, large turtle and an alligator.
Education is key to learning about reptiles and the ecosystem, Taulbee advocates, and the traveling show helps to educate audience members of all ages about reptile appreciation.
“They say that if you don’t love something, you won’t want to save it,” Taulbee said.
“We kind of make people see the animals in a different light than most people fear or don’t care about.
“But they’re (the reptiles) important to the environment so if we just let them die off, we’re going to be affected by that,” Taulbee said.
James and Callie Suerth of Algonquin, the parents of Morgan, 10 months and Riley, 2, spent time listening to music performed on the main stage on Robert Parker Coffin Road.
The stage was set in front of the renowned wooden Robert Parker Coffin Bridge. The bridge has a long history of being struck by motorists despite the 8’6” posted height warning signs.
The Red Delicious apple variety is James Suerth’s favorite apple in part because, “We’ve got a tree in the yard.”
The Suerth family eats the apples grown on their Red Delicious tree.
“This year we will,” try to make apple pie, Callie Suerth said. James Suerth added, “We’re here for the apple cider donuts.”
A popular photo opportunity was the parked wagon on Robert Parker Coffin Road near the main stage, filled with bushels of apples, festive fall colors and a large pumpkin adding to the orange seasonal theme.
This was where Christina Benedict of Hoffman Estates snapped a selfie with Benedict’s parent Molly James, also of Hoffman Estates. Benedict reported feeling, “very happy” to be in Long Grove.
Benedict likes brown bag apple pie and also the Red Delicious crisp apple variety.
“They’re sweeter and they’re delicious,” Benedict said with a smile about Red Delicious apples.
Benedict said about Apple Fest, “I like to see the entertainment and the rides and the so many apple products.
“This is probably one of the best apple fests we’ve gone to.”
Visit https://www.longgrove.org
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
