Stirring up good times at Apple Butter Stir Off
Pioneer Presbyterian Church members Donna Gaston, left, and Sandy Sellers sell apple butter prepared by the church at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Civitan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Attendees watch as the Belpre High School Marching Band performs at the 48th annual Apple Butter Stir Off on Sunday in Citivan Park. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Maggie Webster, left, and Paxton Hudnall-Bolian crush apples that will be cooked into apple butter at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Citivan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
James Denes and Jenna Cochran stir large pits of cooking apple butter at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Citivan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Pioneer Presbyterian Church members Donna Gaston, left, and Sandy Sellers sell apple butter prepared by the church at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Civitan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Attendees watch as the Belpre High School Marching Band performs at the 48th annual Apple Butter Stir Off on Sunday in Citivan Park. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Maggie Webster, left, and Paxton Hudnall-Bolian crush apples that will be cooked into apple butter at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Citivan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
James Denes and Jenna Cochran stir large pits of cooking apple butter at the Apple Butter Stir Off in Citivan Park on Sunday. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
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BELPRE - Belpre Lions Club hosted the 48th annual Apple Butter Stir Off this weekend at Citivan Park with Pioneer Presbyterian Church of Belpre.
"We hope to have 200 gallons of apple butter," said Tom Webster, with Pioneer Presbyterian. "We start at about 7 a.m. and we finish (cooking) around 4 p.m."
Webster has been with the church since 1992 and has taken part in the event since its adoption by the church. He said they make the apple butter over the course of a few days, before canning and selling, with any leftovers sold the next year.
Last weekend, the group made around 98 gallons with another 100 gallons this weekend.
Jolene Reeder, president of the Belpre Lions Club, said the event is one of the major fundraisers for both the club and the church. While the apple butter is the main event, they look for new things every year to continue to draw in the community.
"Everybody loves to come and get the apple butter. Each year we try to do something new. We always try to have different types of vendors and entertainment, a little bit for everybody," she said.
"Pioneer Presbyterian Church does all the apple butter stirring and selling themselves, but we bring in the vendors and entertainment," Reeder said.
The event featured performances from the Belpre High School Marching Band, the Wayward Dancers and the Gypsy River Acoustic Duo, plus children's activities like hay rides and a coloring contest.
Reeder said in addition to entertainment and vendors, there was a free vision screening by Emily Weatherford, an optometrist with Belpre Eye Care Associates and a member of the Lions Club.
"(Weatherford) asked can we do vision screenings and (I thought) it’s a great community thing to give back,” Reeder said.
She said the money raised goes back to the community, following the club’s motto of "We serve", providing vision screening, eyeglasses, hearing aids and emergency food for those in need.
Sophie Wheeler can be reached at swheeler@newsandsentinel.com