A Bite of Fun

It’s the best time of year for apples, and the Saint Charles Riverwalk Market is serving up plenty of apple-forward fun. Buy some farm-fresh fruit, enjoy a caramel apple, and definitely be on the lookout for a special furry guest.

The Saint Charles Riverwalk Market, in partnership with the St. Charles Lions Club, will hold its first Apple Festival from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the Foundry Art Centre Parking Lot in St. Charles. 

Josh Hall, Strategic Communications Manager for the City of Saint Charles, says the Saint Charles Riverwalk Market hosts a variety of special festivals throughout the farmers market season. These have included a Strawberry Festival, a Watermelon Festival, and a Back-to-School Festival. A Pumpkin Festival will be held later in the season. “Our vendors really lean into these festivals,” Hall says. 

In addition to its typical farmers market fare, local vendors will be selling delicious farm-fresh apples, apple-based treats, and apple-themed crafts. As you can tell, it’s a real apple extravaganza. 

Those with a talent for baking are invited to enter the pie-baking contest, which includes categories for Traditional/Decorative Two-Crust Apple Pie and Apple Crisp. Participants are encouraged to pre-register their submissions, and are asked to bring two pies: one for judging and one to be sold at the Apple Pie Contest Tent. Proceeds benefit the City of Saint Charles Animal Shelter.  

And there’s a bushel of other apple-related activities to pick from.

Got a sweet tooth? You’ll want to hit the caramel apple walk. It’s like a cake walk, but instead of baked goods you’re winning caramel apples. There also will be a children’s area with make-and-take crafts and live music. 

And if you need an incentive to show up early, Poppy the Highland cow will be available for photo ops from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. Hall says the long-horned cutie is always a popular draw at festivals. 

“It’s pretty photogenic,” Hall says. 

We can think of nothing more Instagrammable than this. 

Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.