Southington's Apple Fest Doing Well Financially

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Summer is quickly coming to an end, which only means activity is continuing to ramp up surrounding Southington's biggest community event — which happens to take place every fall.

Recently, the Southington Town Council learned the Southington Apple Harvest Festival has lined up a fireworks vendor and about $125,000 has been raised in both vendor booth fees and sponsorships.

The festival is a six-day event over two weekends each fall and draws more than 100,000 people, according to the town.

The 2022 Festival is scheduled for the weekends (Friday-Sunday) of Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9 and it all takes place on the Southington Town Green on Main Street.

According to Councilman Christopher J. Palmieri, who is on the Southington Apple Harvest Festival Advisory Committee, event organizers have raised $29,000 in event sponsorships and another $96,000 in booth fees from various vendors, such as those selling food.

This, he told fell council members during the festival committee's report at Aug. 15's council meeting, helps offset the $250,000 overall budget to put on the event, including police, public works and entertainment.

Meanwhile, Palmieri said the committee in July picked a firm to do the fireworks, so that popular part of the festival should be all set.

At the council meeting, Palmieri also thanked festival ambassadors Elijah Hammond, Sophia Leblanc, Amanda Thompson, Diego Mendez, Angelina Mekachi, Sophia Shasha and Riley Sima for their services.

Palmieri told fellow town officials he expects to festival to, eventually, garner enough revenue so town funds will not have to be utilized.

As of mid-August, Palmieri said all of the booths, except one, were sold and reserved for use, adding some of the vendors will be new to the Southington tradition.

For more information on the Southington Apple Harvest Festival, click on this link.

For more information on the Southington Apple Harvest Festival Advisory Committee, click on this link.