Celebrating another successful Apple Days

The Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village was the best place to be to have some family fun time Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8 as the museum's annual Apple Days was celebrated.
During the two day event there were many activities offered to visitors in the Pioneer Village.
Apple Days ran from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days and consisted of kids' pony rides, live music and entertainment, crafts and games, gold panning, mock gun fights, face painting, archery, atlatl, vendors and more.
General admission into Apple Days was $5 as well as a Family Rate (2 adults + kids under 17) that was available with lunch only costing $3. Kids under six were able to get in for free.
Carly Schoening, a local singer/songwriter, sang the Star Spangled Banner to start off the day.
"I really appreciated Carly Schoening coming and singing the Star Spangled Banner," Museum Director Lexie Palmer-Gapper said. "She did a fantastic job."
One of the first events to happen on Saturday, October 7 was an Apple Pie Contest. Whoever entered into the contest got admission to the museum waived for the day.
"I loved when they started with the apple pie contest because the smell was amazing," Palmer-Gapper said.
The apple pies were judged based on two main categories: traditional double crust apple pies and non-traditional apple pies, with different age groups competing.
"I am so thrilled with how well everything is going," Palmer-Gapper said. "I cannot believe the energy, I cannot believe how well everyone on the staff has pulled together. Everyone has pulled together amazingly well- the volunteers, the Friends of Old Mission."
Palmer-Gapper was also thrilled at how well all of the visiting performers were during the event.
"I really enjoyed Scenic Route's playing," Palmer-Gapper said of one of the live music performers that were in attendance.
Mariachi Huenachi, the Wenatchee Youth Circus and Ron Thompson were also key components in the live entertainment/performers that came to the annual celebration.
This year's celebration was Palmer-Gapper's first year experiencing it herself.
"It was incredible weather and it was a fantastic group of people," Palmer-Gapper said. "Everybody seemed to really be enjoying themselves so I couldn't have asked for a better first Apple Days for myself."
The Wanapum Heritage Center was also there for Apple Days, which Palmer-Gapper was really excited about.
"They were here for our 50th anniversary and it's just a phenomenal addition to what's going on down here," Palmer-Gapper said. "We're so glad that they could be a part of it."
Palmer-Gapper was also extremely grateful towards Irene Gomes and John Clifford for handling the lunches that all of the attendees partook in during both days.
"They got here early and they've been making the food themselves and serving it," Palmer-Gapper said. "Friend of Old Mission women have been helping them and we're just so grateful that they're willing to do this for us as a donation of their time and efforts. Without them it (lunch) wouldn't happen."
Fred Harvey, the Museum Facilities Manager, was in awe of this year's Apple Days event. Harvey ran a station where he filleted salmon using traditional Native American tools for onlookers.
"Apple Days was great," Harvey stated cheerily. "I think it was the best we've ever had. We broke records in attendance and in how many pans of gold (for gold panning) we did, and there were many other things. It's just been a phenomenal event and the weather was great. People were having a lot of fun and it was really, really good."