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BUSTI – A longtime fall tradition in Chautauqua County is set to take place on Sunday.
The Busti Apple Festival is returning this year after it was put on hold due to the pandemic.
This year, the Busti Historical Society, who puts on this annual event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their site on 3443 Lawson Road, is switching things up a bit as they welcome the community back.
“Well there’s a big change this year because usually we have our vendors on the road, and on part of the fireman’s grounds. We are all gonna be on our grounds this year around our buildings,” says Shultz. “We have over 100 vendors and demonstrators so far that are signed up and more are coming. They keep contacting me saying do you have space?”
While Judy Shultz, the financial secretary for the historical society, says it is difficult to say what exactly each vendor is doing, she expects that there will be a variety of things for everyone.
“We have a couple bakeries they’re coming, we have candy makers, we have people that do leather products and cloth products quilting. Jewelry we have lots of jewelry people and we have part of the farmers markets part of it, we have food trucks and food vendors,” says Shultz. “Two of the new ones this year the highlight that everybody seems to be is exciting is that Meredith state winery will be here with their slushy truck and the Ellicottville distillery is going to be here with samples.”
The goal of the festival is to raise money to fund the Busti Historical Society’s non-profit mission of keeping local history alive by operating their Grist Mill.
The group plans to continue to remodel the Miller house, which has been a big challenge due to increased construction costs. Money will also be used to cover costs to run the mill, which generally run about $10,000.
“Just come and see what’s here, spend the afternoon with us. It’s five dollars per person to get in, and that money is split between the fire department and the busti historical society that’s our fundraising there,” says Shultz. “Enjoy the day, meet with people, we’re planning on having a musician here. Sit and listen to the music, have some food, there’s plenty of food that’s going to be here, um and just kind of enjoy the day out now that we can.”
In the end, Shultz hopes they can recoup pandemic losses, since they had no fundraiser last year, and wants to expand the property, and get more young people interested in history.
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