Apple Butter Making Week is a popular fall tradition at Sauder Village. From Wednesday, September 25 through Saturday, September 28 guests from throughout the region will gather at Sauder Village to celebrate this annual event with apple butter making, cider pressing, apple cooking demonstrations and many hands-on apple-themed activities.
Produced in the fall as a way to preserve part of the apple crop, apple butter was historically a community project – bringing families and neighbors together each fall. Again this year, guests of all ages will gather to celebrate this time-honored fall tradition at Sauder Village. The highlight of the week takes place in the 1910 Homestead where the delicious apple butter is made. Guests can enjoy apple schnitzing demonstrations in the homestead cellar and then watch as gallons of apple cider and bushels of the thinly sliced apples are simmered over an open fire and stirred until the mixture reduces to form the thick, sweet spread. Samples of the homemade apple butter will be available for guests to enjoy.
“Surviving the winter was really a year ‘round activity for our ancestors,” shared Andi Erbskorn, Curator of Education. “Crops were planted, food was harvested, meat was hunted and all was preserved with an eye towards the long winter months ahead. That is what our costumed staff focuses on in the fall, especially during our Apple Butter Making Week.”
Another way to preserve apples was to press them into cider. Throughout the week the historic wooden press will be put to use to make apple cider. There will be many other apple-related activities taking place as well. Guests can try packing apples in barrels for winter storage and watch apple cooking demonstrations in some of the historic homes.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of delicious apple treats while visiting Sauder Village. There will be apple dumplings and apple pie for guests to purchase and the Sweet Shoppe will be selling caramel apples.
On the final day of the event, Saturday, September 28, pie bakers young and old will have a chance to show off their talents in the annual Old-Fashioned Pie Baking contest. Any traditional pie recipe with an “old-fashioned” flair can be entered and the winners will receive ribbons and prizes. Additional details and registration forms for the contest are available online.
Historic Sauder Village is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and each Sunday afternoon from noon-4:00 p.m. The Historic Village is closed on Mondays, except holidays. Admission is $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for students ages 6-16. Children 5 and under are always free with family and Sauder Village members receive free admission to the Historic Village for an entire year. Senior, Military and AAA discounts are also available. And again this year, children 16 and under are free every Sunday this season! For more information phone 1-800-590-9755, visit www.saudervillage.org, like Sauder Village on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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