Apple Butter Festival

I had never been before so I didn’t know what to expect and there were a lot of people! However, traffic and parking were managed well ($ 5 to park but not far at all). There were lots of vendor and a bunch of families had strollers with no problems. They had a little (paid) petting zoo and bounce house for kids and they sold all kind of amazing looking food, beer pitchers and free wine sampling for the adults. I think they handled the crowd well and I hope to go again at some point.

Other than the absolutely horrific traffic and parking situation (apparently this festival attracts 150,000 people throughout the weekend), there is nothing I don’t love about Kimmswick’s Apple Butter Festival! If you’ve never been to Kimmswick — GO! It’s a teeny tiny town of its own. It’s probably only four blocks squared and it’s filled cute shop after cute shop! Lots of locally made goods, a tea and spice shop and, of course, the famous Blue Owl (I would definitely encourage you to stop by and get a slice of cheesecake). Kimmswick feels similar to Historic St. Charles, but Kimmswick is even simpler and smaller — and in such an endearing way!
During the festival, every street is lined with booths and tents. There’s all the usually crafty things you see for sale. And, of course, apple butter! But lawn and holiday decorations seem to be particularly popular here. There’s also all the usual food — gyros, funnel cakes, ribbon chips, sausages and more!

Was great this year 2015. A lot more booths this year and more hand made crafts. There was a black smith making custom things that was really cool to watch. Horses and bounce houses for the kids too which was fun!

Ridiculous traffic and impossible parking challenges don’t make up for this mediocre festival of bad crafts and cheesy merchandise. Typical fair foods and treats help the mood, and there are a handful of shops worth a visit, but not much else worth the substantial effort to get here… and the even more difficult effort to get out. The actual apple butter-​making component is really small and disappointing, not as historic as we had hoped.

This was always a great event. This year the trend has continued by bringing in more store front items instead of a show that always had excellent crafters. I am sure I will give it one more shot next year but with the decline it will probably be my last

Epic fail! A quaint little town that a flea market threw up on! Carnival food, fried, expensive crap. Bamboo pillow vendors (this must be the new fad) every 10 feet. Will NEVER go to a festival in Kimmswick again!

All the negative comments regarding this years Festival are totally justified. We will try Kimmswick again without the festival. Major disappointment. Too bad I can’t give it less than one star.

Traffic getting off the highway was a backed up, unorganized MESS! A line 2 miles long each way on the shoulder and idiots stopping dead on the highway to try and butt closer in line. It was scary and insane to watch. An established festival like this should have a WAY better traffic management system in place. Total time on highway — about 50 min.
A bit disappointed in the selection of vendors. Was hoping for a lot more homemade crafts and trinkets! What was there was a bunch of cheap perfume knock offs and bad mass produced merchandise sold by street vendors and carnies! Not much variety in food (we actually decided to eat elsewhere after leaving).
The location of the food stands was not strategic as well. Lines blocked the passage and flow of traffic. And there was nowhere to sit and or enjoy food if you did buy it. Some jerk was charging people $ 1 to sit for 5 min on a bench — are you kidding me?
Also, the «train» riding through the streets was more than annoying and unnecessary — there is nothing to see. Why further complicate the movement of an already crowded festival.
We did get some of the official apple butter and although it is very good, not sure I was worth the trouble. Something tells me it could still be acquired throughout the year and with far less trouble and frustration. The wine slushie was also good.
At least it was a nice day. Wouldn’t go back next year unless more authentic and talented local artisans were displaying. And I just doubt that will happen. So, stick with the Festival of the Little Hills I will!

Fail… It use to be fun and nice… Now it is crappy vendors selling useless stuff… Use to be home made unique items… They now cram in as many vendors as possible… No room for strollers and parking is HORRIBLE!!!
Go to kimswick when the festival isn’t going on… So much nicer…

Hellllllllllllllllll no. Never again. The 5 star reviews of this festival are totally whack!
My mother in law and I like going to crafty type festivals. We like hanging out. We decided to give this a try, and I had wanted to go to Kimmswick so why not?
Traffic was bad on Sunday morning. They really need cops directing traffic off the highway. It was backed up — dangerous. Saw a bunch of sheriffs parked on the side of the road but no one directing. We parked pretty close for $ 5. We walked and. holy crap. explosion of JUNK and FRIED FOODS. That’s pretty much what most of this festival is. They boast of having about 80 food vendors. Most are fried foods, kettle corn, or lemonade. There was nothing at all appetizing. We went to the Blue Owl in hopes that we could put our name in, browse, then come back. At 11am they were taking names for 3:15 seatings. Say whaaa? They had a booth with pie but I just couldn’t stomach it.
I felt bad for the TRUE crafter booths here because they were spread out amongst such crap. I managed to get a cute handmade fleece dog coat for Rosie.
The other good thing about the festival was the actual apple butter, which we saw being stirred by the Kimmswick Historical Society. We each bought a few pints.
It made me sorta mad that the historical society does all that work and is working to preserve the city, which was so bastardized by all the junk booths.
I wish they’d have some guidelines for the items being handmade only instead of handmade. in China. Only then would I go back. I was happy to leave.

If you’ve never been to Kimmswick (or heard of Kimmswick) google it right now and plan your visit!
I go several times a year for many of the festivals this small quaint town holds and by far the biggest one and the most populated is their yearly Apple Butter Festival. Held the last weekend in October, you will see a wide arrangement of food, crafts, antiques… you name it, they have come to Kimmswick
The folk are eager to help and guide you wherever you heart desires while there.
We ate before hand but I recommend that you bring a few dollars and try out their famous Dough Depot or the Blue Owl. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

I witnessed the awakening and bustling of a sleepy, historic town of Kimmswick for the annual Apple Butter Festival this past weekend. Don’t let the size of the town fool you: It felt like hundreds of booths of food, crafts, antiques, and various wares to satisfy every taste or palate. I even got a personalized ID pet tag and collar for my dog and climb a rockwall for free at the Festival. Everyone who manned their booths were polite and eager to help and I even got the opportunity to stir the large vat of apple butter at the Apple Butter Society booth!
Come next year with an empty tummy and some cash for most purchases (the closest ATM is in the Visitor’s Center and the machine charges a $ 2 processing fee); and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by this not-​so-​well-​known-​yet-​pleasant fall Festival. Don’t forget the apple butter!