Apple butter spreads good times in Grand Rapids

Slug: CTY festival12p Date 10/11/2009 The Blade/ Amy E. Voigt Location: Grand Rapids, Ohio CAPTION: Three cauldrons of apple butter are being stirred during the annual Apple Butter Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, Ohio. on October 11, 2009. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Slug: CTY festival12p Date 10/11/2009 The Blade/ Amy E. Voigt Location: Grand Rapids, Ohio CAPTION: Bernita Nighswander, left, asks questions about cooking techniques to reenactors Belinda Morgan, center from Holland, and Pam Esslinger (CQ), right from Wixom, during the annual Apple Butter Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, Ohio. on October 11, 2009. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Slug: CTY festival12p Date 10/11/2009 The Blade/ Amy E. Voigt Location: Grand Rapids, Ohio CAPTION: From left: Tom Wilson, Ryan Johnson, Jay Gallagher, Josh Main, and Ben Feather, use an apple press to make cider during the annual Apple Butter Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, Ohio. on October 11, 2009. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Volunteers stir apple butter in 50-gallon kettles at the 33rd annual Grand Rapids Apple Butter Festival, sponsored by the village historical society. Plans for the festival, which ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. yesterday, called for selling 2,300 pints of apple butter in the park.

Bundled against the chill, Bernita Nighswander, left, seeks apple butter-making tips from re-enactors Belinda Morgan, center, and Pam Esslinger as they huddle near a fire.

Jay Gallagher presses apples while Josh Main and Ben Feather watch. The festival also featured candle dipping, basket weaving, quilt making, blacksmithing, and pottery making.