BELPRE — The Belpre Lions Club plans on causing a stir this weekend.
The 44th annual Belpre Lions Club Apple Butter Stir Off is slated from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Civitan Park.
The event is the organization’s biggest service project, aimed at bringing the community together to enjoy friends, food and entertainment, according to a release from the club. A variety of crafters and vendors will be set up, and the Pioneer Presbyterian Church will once again be handling the traditional apple butter stirring.
“It’s an event that shows just like an old-fashioned way of doing something that’s being continued,” said Bobette Grimm with the Lions Club. “Folks can come by and watch them stir. And they even let … all ages stir.”
The finished product will be available for sale in quarts and pints. Some will be prepared in advance, but even so, “there’s been quite a few years that they’ve run out,” Grimm said.
Nevaeh McCleese, Kacy Hahn, Shianna Cunningham and Kenisyn Maze with the Belpre Performing Arts Boosters help press apples into sauce to be turned into apple butter during the 2021 Apple Butter Stir Off at Civitan Park in Belpre. (File Photo)
There’s a price for the apple butter but admission to the event itself is free.
The Apple of Your Eye pageants will return after a two-year hiatus. Miss Teen Apple of Your Eye Katie Woodford was crowned virtually last month, Grimm said, and will crown in person the winners in the Baby Miss and Mister, Tiny Miss and Mister and Little Miss competitions, scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Saturday.
More performances are on tap for Sunday, with the Byesville gospel quartet the Loves from noon to 1 p.m, the Belpre High School marching band at 1:30 and the school cheerleaders at 2:30, said Jessica Madison, with the Lions Club. Local band Rockin’ Country Fever takes the stage from 3 to 4:30 p.m. followed by young Athens singer Emaline Duquette from 4:45 to 5:45.
Inflatables for young and old will be available and folks can pet the alpacas from Alpaca Run Farm and learn about the local farm.
