For Immediate Release         Media Contact:  Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
September 29, 2008                                            Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbmg.net

Enjoy a Pair of A-Peeling Apple Festivals
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

 Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – Autumn and apples go together like families and fun. In October, not one but two fun family festivals are all about apples at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks: the 29th annual Old Tyme Apple Festival in Versailles, Saturday, Oct. 4, and the 11th annual Apple Butter Days Fall Festival in Linn Creek, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11.

Named the best festival in central Missouri for five consecutive years by the readers of Rural Missouri, the Old Tyme Apple Festival in Versailles typically attracts more than 30,000 visitors. Festival chairperson and Versailles Chamber of Commerce President Jim Dykzeul explains why: “It’s the timing in the early fall, our remarkable parade and the variety of vendors—plus the entire community pulling together.”

The festival offers something for everyone, from children to seniors and everyone in between, Dykzeul adds. This year’s theme, “Mardi Gras,” was selected to reflect the festival’s “good music, good food and good times,” he notes. “We’ll have Mardi Gras colors of purple and gold throughout the festival areas to liven things up too.”

As a result, visitors will enjoy live Dixieland jazz and zydeco music throughout the square. In addition, live music—including country, gospel and blues--will be offered at the new amphitheatre stage. Dykzeul adds fair-goers will savor authentic New Orleans-style gumbo and beans and dirty rice along with the always-anticipated kettle corn, funnel cakes, turkey drumsticks, roasted corn on the cob, as well as apple goodies galore and more.

At 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, the beloved Old Tyme Apple Festival parade will wind its way along Highway 52 through downtown Versailles. With dozens of floats, plus clowns, bands, horses, classic cars and more, the parade typically lasts about one and a half hours. “It may even go a little longer this year considering it’s an election year and we’re expecting several politicians,” Dykzeul says. “It’s always a great parade, with outstanding music provided by area high school bands.”

On Saturday at 2 p.m., the Royal Theatre will host the crowd-pleasing Olde Tyme Fiddler’s Contest. “This event always attracts many of the top fiddlers from around the region,” Dykzeul notes.

As in previous years, more than 400 booths around the town square will offer all kinds of crafts, including many apple-related items. “We’ve also invited more regional artisans who are helping to keep Ozarks arts and culture alive,” Dykzeul says. “They’ll be demonstrating and displaying their fine workmanship.”

Kids will find plenty to do at the Old Tyme Apple Festival’s Fun Zone, featuring bounce booths, face paintings and hands-on arts activities. And speaking of kids, the Baby Dumplin and Apple Dumplin & Darlin contests will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Oct. 3 at the First Baptist Church. The King & Queen contest will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Morgan County Courthouse.

Other festival activities will include a two-mile walk, a 5K and 10K run and a 10K Super Senior Run; a car show at Versailles City Park; apple pie contests; tractor and engine display at Ozark Wheels; free tours of the fascinating Morgan County Historical Society Museum; and several performances of the Broadway musical, “Hello Dolly” at the Royal Theatre. Free shuttles will provide transportation from parking lots to festival event sites. The grand finale will be the Figure 8 Tough Truck demolition derby, 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, sponsored by the Versailles Lions Club.

Dykzeul notes visitors will find more seating throughout the festival area, as well as more shelters in case of inclement weather. “We are focusing on the comfort of the festival-goers more than ever,” he says. “We invite everyone to come have a great time in Versailles at our wonderful Old Tyme Apple Festival.” 

The following Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, several hundred visitors are expected at the charming Apple Butter Days Fall Festival. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Camden County Museum, located on V Road just off Highway 54 in Linn Creek. As the name indicates, the highlight of the festival will be apple butter. “We make it the old-fashioned way in a big copper kettle,” says Daphne Jeffries, president of the Camden County Historical Society. The arduous process involves peeling, chopping, stirring and jarring, all done by volunteers. “Between our pies and the apple butter, we go through around 10 bushels of apples,” Jeffries says. “Everyone truly loves our apple butter!” A pint will sells for $3, a quart for $5. Sugar-free apple butter also will be available, as well as fresh-baked or frozen apple pies.

Chili and home-made soup plus corn bread and dessert will be served, and other food booths also may offer an array of goodies. Crafts booths will offer autumn and holiday decorations, crocheted and knitted items and more. A raffle will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday for a quilt featuring a hand-made top of silk-ribbon embroidery, created by the Dragon Lakes Arts & Crafts Club and donated to the Camden County Historical Society where volunteers completed it by hand. “It is absolutely gorgeous,” Jeffries says.

In addition, local author Lonetta Bartell will be on hand to sign her recently published book, These Kaleidoscope Hills, featuring tales of growing up at the Lake of the Ozarks.

All proceeds will go toward maintaining the unique Camden County Museum, a former school built in 1930 in which each “classroom” is a mini-museum.

“We try to have a good time at our festival and hopefully everyone who comes through will learn something and have a good time, too,” Jeffries says.

To find out more about the Olde Tyme Apple Festival and Apple Butters Days Fall Festival, as well as other Lake-area festivals, accommodations, dining, attractions, shopping and more, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at (800) FUN-LAKE or visit www.funlake.com or www.versailleschamber.org.