The Second Annual Aldersgate Apple Butter Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, located at 1207 West Dixon Blvd., Shelby.
The festival's origins are unique. A few of the United Methodist Women were brainstorming ideas for future activities for the church.
"Our goal was two-fold," says festival co-chair Renee Bumbaugh. "First, we wanted to do good in our local area, and secondly, we wanted to create a stronger sense of community within our congregation."
They decided that sponsoring a festival was the way to accomplish both goals. But the focus of the festival was unclear until one organizer overheard another member talking about how she had made apple butter for a festival at her previous congregation in Tennessee. The idea was born.
Last October the church held their first-ever Aldersgate Apple Butter Festival. To say it was a success would be putting it mildly.
"We had 700 jars of homemade apple butter," says Bumbaugh. "Our festival opened at 9 a.m., and we were sold out by 10:30! We had to start taking orders and promising people that we would let them know when we had more made."
For this year's festival, the goal is to have 1,200 jars available. But the Apple Butter Festival isn't just about apple butter. Four bands, an exhibit from the Schiele Museum, storytellers, a bouncy house, antique cars, and a wide variety of vendors will also be a part of the event. An apple pie contest will be held among members of the church, and slices of the pies will be available for sale at the festival.
Those curious about the flavor of the Aldersgate apple butter will have a chance to preview this year's batch at a special event held at Pleasant City Grill in downtown Shelby on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. On that night, Pleasant City will feature an "Aldersgate Apple Butter Pizza" on the menu. The pizza will be made with apple sauce in place of the traditional marinara sauce and will be topped with caramelized onions and gouda cheese.
"This all has just been such a success," says Bumbaugh. "It has definitely been very rewarding for the church and so much fun for everyone involved."
Proceeds for this year's festival will go to international United Methodist Women's missions and to the Neal Senior Center's nutrition programs.
For more information about the festival, visit the event's page on the church's web site at
www.aldersgateshelby.com, search for "Apple Butter Festival of Aldersgate" on Facebook or call the church at 704-487-8491.

By April Hoyle-Shauf

Special to Shelby Shopper & Info