Apple Harvest Festival lookback

This year’s Apple Harvest Festival, once again organized by Annelle Norman, filled Point Roberts with joy, music, and the scent of fresh cider. What began as a small neighborhood celebration now brings hundreds of neighbors and visitors together annually, while raising funds for Point Roberts Circle of Care.

Festivalgoers enjoyed live music, apple-pressing, games, and the ever-popular apple pies and baked goods. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers who baked and hauled apples, set up, staffed booths, and cleaned up.

The festival started with bingo on Friday night. Amanda and Holly Parsons organized the bingo evening. Amanda and Kai called bingo numbers. We had lots of visitors from across the border, some of whom came in fun, whacky Bingo costumes. Marketplace gift certificates, cash and fun prizes were awarded to winners. Shauna Sylvester sold 50/50 tickets. Beth Calder generously donated her winnings back to Circle of Care.

Saturday and Sunday the community came out in droves bringing bushels and bushels of apples to press hundreds of gallons of fragrant, delicious, apple juice. Families, kids, grandparents, and neighbors were supported by team leader, Dr. Donna McLachlan and her band of amazing, hardworking volunteers.

Saturday morning began with The Border Cruisers classic car show organized by Cheryl Zeve and a photo shoot of lovely ladies in vintage costumes coordinated by Savilla Kress.

Meanwhile, in the community center Jen Kurtz and Patricia Johns sold delicious baked goods, created and donated by local bakers. Kathleen Pierce of Ollie Otter Bakery donated an Apple Spice Pecan cake for a raffle and Ingrid Johnson was the winner!

The community center was transformed into a psychedelic hippy den for Sunday evening’s dance concert/costume party. Contractor Andy Leaf sent a team of workers to help volunteers decorate. The Point Band provided hippy-era music for dancers. Bill Zidell manned the door and greeted partygoers, selling tickets and making jokes. There were fabulous door prizes thanks to Nielson’s Hardware, Kora’s Corner, Tia Maria, and Larry’s Liquor Locker. Maureen Kirwin and Holly Robinson sold 50/50 tickets and Circle of Care board members and volunteers staffed the bar.

The weekend raised over $3,000 for Circle of Care. Those funds will support The Angel Project, the Durable Medical Equipment loan program, pay insurance costs and defray other expenses.

Circle of Care extends heartfelt thanks to every volunteer, donor and neighbor who made this year’s event possible. You are the roots and branches of this growing tradition.

(Special thanks and kudos to Point Roberts Park and Recreation’s Dee Gough and Allison Calder who restored the community center to the clean, tidy space that we all enjoy so much.)

Plans are already underway for next year’s festival, and we invite new volunteers to join the fun! To get involved, contact us at prcircleofcare@gmail.com.