‘Apple Fest’ raises money for Eatonville Family Agency

The Eatonville Community Apple Fest churned out 600 gallons of apple cider this year.

It was the eighth year of the event, but the first year where proceeds from the sale of the cider will go to a charity.

Folks had the opportunity to purchase a half-gallon jug of the fresh cider for a suggested donation of $4 a pop. About 300 half-gallon jugs were sold, according to Steve Schmidt, one of the owners of Mill Hause, the business sponsor of the event.

After the cost of any purchased apples for the cider is taken into account, Mill Hause will be able to donate about $600 to the Eatonville Family Agency.

“We are a business that wants to support this small community,” Schmidt said. “Part of our proceeds will go toward supporting the Eatonville Family Agency and some other organizations in Eatonville, including the Eatonville Special Olympic Team.”

In all, about 150 people attended the event, and many brought their own apples to add to the mill, which was located at 203 Washington Ave, S.

Apple Fest featured live music by Phil Moore and a community pot luck.

Alana Sharpe Smith, executive director of the Eatonville Family Agency said that the organization is grateful for the support.

“It was kind of a fun, community event, and everybody pitched in, did apples and packaged juice.”

She said the organization serves about 1,200 people a month, and will use the money to help with holiday expenses.

The cider mill was created by the owners of Mill Hause – Steve and Caleb Schmidt as well as Nick and Justin Baublits – and utilizes old horse drafting equipment.

Mill Hause will soon move to a new location on Center Street.

Steve Schmidt said the new location will feature at cider mill, tap room, produce stand and an outdoor patio with fire pits.

Beyond the obvious support that Apple Fest will give to the Eatonville Family Agency, Sharpe Smith said that the event also brought the town together.

“The Apple Fest is great for everybody to come together and roll up their sleeves, pitch in and help with the process,” she said. “There’s not many places nowadays that you can go and watch the whole process from beginning to end of apple cider being made, and then have a really great glass afterwards.”