Re-Betchworth’s AppleFest 2024 – not to be missed!!

Get the date in your diary now – Saturday 5 October 1-4.00 pm at Betchworth Village Hall. An event for all the family, whether or not you’re expecting a bumper apple crop!

 

On this page you'll find everything you need to know about this year's AppleFest...

We’ll be running all our usual Apple Pressing, Juice Sales and Kids’ Activities, with delicious freshly pressed juice, savouries, cakes, puds, tea and coffees on offer all afternoon. Plus, you’ll find a trio of new attractions this year. Betchworth Village Hall and outside space will be transformed into a veritable carnival of apples and nature-related activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Refreshments available all afternoon
Savouries, cakes, puds and coffee - Treat yourself to a slice of scrumptious village-baked apple cake, an apple pud or maybe a specialty biscuit, washed down with coffee, tea and other refreshments.  

Apple Pressing - Bring your apples along to have them pressed and bottled (no windfalls please). We can supply new bottles, or you can save both money and waste by washing and sterilising your own 1ltr plastic milk or juice bottles; make sure you keep the caps as sizes vary slightly. And if you’re planning to make cider this year, then bring larger containers and pay even less per litre. Last pressings at 3.30pm. 

Juice sales – No apple trees? Come anyway and buy the freshest possible juice, pressed in front of your eyes from apples donated by others. Ready for immediate drinking or freezing.
 
Children’s Activities - There’ll be plenty of fun Autumn crafting activities for younger family members, under the creative eye of our Betchworth Forest School leader Clair. Older children are welcome to help with the pressing of your apples, under supervision.
 
NEW: Garden tool and knife sharpening - Have your secateurs lost their edge? Your knives or scissors not cutting as they once did? Your loppers taking more effort than before? Bring them all as well as your edging tools, hoes, spades, shears or any other garden or household tool. Let Adam of Surrey Sharpeners bring them back to life.
 
Well known for his service to various local horticultural societies, Adam is setting up his mobile workshop in the Village Hall car park, long before the AppleFest officially opens at 1.00, so you can drop off your tools early, pick them up later and enjoy a coffee and AppleFest cake in the afternoon when the Juicing is in full flow. 
 
NEW: Surrey County Council’s Greener Futures team will be at AppleFest, with information on a host of their sustainable living schemes. The team is responsible for restoring our natural environment, reducing waste and emissions, and creating strategic plans to create energy security for Surrey residents,
 
Find out how you and your neighbours can take advantage of free in-person home energy assessments to help keep your home healthy, warm, and contributing to Surrey’s environmental and climate targets. Or try out VR technology which views of the Surrey countryside accessible to all. Not to be missed. 
 
New! The Re-B Bake Off - with categories for adults and children.  Enter your apple-themed baking speciality - cake, tart, crumble, traybake, strudel or whatever – in our inaugural baking competition.  And walk away with a big smile on your face, a winner’s Rosette (maybe)...

You can find all the details about the competition entry rules, how and when to bring your baking masterpieces to AppleFest etc - just go to our dedicated Re-B Bake-off page here.
 
After judging by local WI President Mary Clark you can take your entry home, or donate it for others to enjoy and to raise funds for the Re-B charity’s continued activities.    
 
NEW: Chutneys, Jams & Jellies –
If you like to cook up a few preserves around now for the store cupboard, why not double your usual quantities and sell your produce from our AppleFest stall? More info here...
Or just come and browse; there’ll be a huge selection of delicious local produce on sale in the hall.
 
Refreshments available all afternoon
Savouries, cakes, puds and coffee - Treat yourself to a slice of scrumptious village-baked apple cake, an apple pud or maybe a specialty biscuit, washed down with coffee, tea and other refreshments.