Attendees of a previous Apple Butter Festival gather in Bakersville. The festival is canceled in 2021 as the pandemic continues.
For a second straight year, the annual Apple Butter Festival is canceled amid the ongoing pandemic.
The event, which is organized by the Mitchell County Historical Society, was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 on the Bakersville Creek Walk.
MCHS Board Chair Rhonda Gunter said even though the event is outdoors, the rise of local infections alarmed the board.
“We were hoping infection rates would have started declining after Sept. 1 but they have remained high,” Gunter said. “With the rise in cases and local medical facilities struggling to provide treatment for patients, our board voted to delay the resumption of the festival this year in an effort to help reduce possible transmission of COVID.”
Gunter added that while MCHS is disappointed to cancel the event again, the organization plans to prepare apple butter to sell through its office in Bakersville and other local locations.
“We want to continue supporting and promoting the mountain tradition of apple butter making in the fall,” she said. “We hope to make an announcement about sales of the apple butter very soon. It would make a great holiday gift.”
As a nonprofit, the Apple Butter Festival is one of the major fundraisers for MCHS. In addition to apple butter, MCHS sells Christmas ornaments, mugs and books at its office in the Historic Mitchell County Courthouse in Bakersville and on its website, mitchellnchistory.org.
MCHS will detail plans for future Apple Butter Festivals at a later date. To learn more about MCHS, learn about apple butter availability or support the organization, visit the website or call 688-4371.