Apple Butter Makin’ Days tops 100K—again
Crafters beat the heat with record sales; no rain outs help draw crowds to annual festival
Despite record breaking hot temps—90 degrees on Saturday—the turnout for the 2024 installment of Apple Butter Makin’ Days was thought to be well over 100,000 people, said Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce Director Brittni Bates. Bates said that while they don’t have a good estimate yet, attendance surpassed last year’s event.
The 58th annual three-day affair drew such a robust crowd thanks to live music, a full schedule of games, contests and a total of 290 total food booths and 450 booths for crafts.
With so many vendors to set up—and the chaos that entails—the ABMD committee tried a new format this year with a check-in process off site.
“We attempted to improve the vendor check-in and unloading process in an effort to implement better safety measures but also to be more mindful of our downtown patrons and businesses,” Bates said. “While there are improvements to still be made for next year, the willingness to selflessly volunteer and help was pivotal. The support from our student body, coaches, parents, and so many others was unparalleled, and we are tremendously humbled and grateful.”
Bates was pleased with the event as a whole and its offerings.
“Overall, visitors from all over the country enjoyed shopping, visiting, playing, and experienced all the best of what our small community has to offer including the hospitality of rural Missouri. It’s the people in Mt. Vernon that make this festival special,” Bates said.
“We had the longest ABMD parade we’ve had in recent memory, record registrations for the weiner dog races, and more contestants for the games and contests Friday morning. Many vendors reported they had record sales, both local and visiting vendors.”
Checkout more photos from ABMD in "2024 ABMD Photos"
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Lawrence County Record
312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
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