I know this festival has had some pretty negative reviews in the past, but I honestly think it was a nice time. Was it the best ever? No, certainly not. But I did have a nice time and found it to be enjoyable despite the number of people, the craziness of parking and the jam packed booths in such small spaces. Depending on where you park, you may need to wait and take a shuttle, or you can likely walk if you are up for it, which is what we did. Paying to park was easy and the lot was semi easy to navigate, but I am thankful that my friend with her SUV drove because I really think my car would have gotten stuck in the grass. Entering the festival is overwhelming. I think they may have had too many vendors (which is not a terrible thing), but when I say it was crowded, I really mean it. Walking in the narrow lanes with vendor booths on both sides was chaotic and really stressed me out a bit. There were so many people walking each and every way with no order whatsoever so I found myself walking behind some of the booths just to avoid people. The food section had tons of options that were mostly like any kind of traditional fair food you can imagine. We did not order anything to eat or drink so we avoided that area. I really just wanted to watch the making of apple butter which I did (quickly) and I managed to find a booth where they were selling apple pie moonshine (so so good)! Lots of the booths had a ton of cheap items that anyone can probably find online through shein or temu so we walked right past those. The booths that we did visit were ones where we can tell the vendor was actually doing the craft. I purchased a hand carved bear and a hand carved snowman by some of the woodworkers and I was very happy with those purchases. My friend also purchased some of the hand crocheted items for her kiddos from a woman who was actually crocheting while in her booth so we know it was made by hand and so cute. There were a few booths selling pet treats and pet items so I did purchase my little pup some treats (he was also with me walking around that day). He liked the treats a lot and was really excited to get so many pets from people and he got to meet a few other dog friends too. Walking around was getting overwhelming for all of us, so we eventually found the little play area where we would rest and the kids could play so that was a nice way to finish out the day. Overall, I liked this festival for what it was. I just wonder if they can do something about the space to maybe spread out things some more net year? It's just really crowded and some of the booths are not necessary IMO. read more

This is genuinely the largest festival I've ever been to. The town and school have it very well organized. Be prepared to deal with heavy auto traffic, lots of pedestrians, and crowds. We parked at the high school fire $10 and ride a shuttle bus to the festival area and back. Very handy!! 500 or so vendors for real. Townspeople were very friendly and friendly in their shops. Found out the Christmas festival is smaller and lots of fun so we'll likely be back for that. When they say they are expecting 100 thousand visitors over the weekend believe them. Certainly worth a visit. read more

I hate to be negative but I have to say we did wait for the shuttle for over 45 minutes both there and back. And you have to take the shuttle. So you're kind of stuck. At the actual festival there were just a lot of food trucks and MLM stuff. Definitely not worth the insanity in my opinion. read more

My wife and I have attended, over the past 30 years, quite a few Apple Butter Festivals in Kimswick, but this was the first time since Covid. I don't think I could have been more disappointed. First issue is the crowd. There were so many people that Just walking WITH the flow was difficult. Trying to cross to a booth on the other side of the road was nearly impossible. We ordered food at one of the extensive food booths. The price was $22.00 for a two tiny pieces of chicken breast with a small portion of fries and a lemonade. When I presented my credit card, the person taking payments told me there would be an additional $4.00 service fee, nearly 20%! We declined to pay such exorbitant fees. As we stood in line at another food booth I watched one of the cooks, a younger person grilling kabobs, blow their nose into a tissue, toss the tissue, then resume cooking and handling raw meat without washing their hands. Disgusting! We decided to not eat anything at the festival. The greed and unsafe food handling by what I hope is just a few was enough to convince us to not return to either of Kimswick's festivals. read more

I've been coming to the ABF for years and years now, it's been going downhill, but this year was the final straw. I don't think I'll be back next year. I can deal with the large crowds, that's a given at Kimmswick during events. What I can't deal with is the sheer amount of religious and political booths and advertisers roaming the crowds thrusting bibles, pro-life/Amendment 3 misinformation fliers, and political ads into your hands as they pass by you. My sister literally had to yell "we're athiest" to get the religious cult away from our dad as they zeroed in on him from the crowd and tried handing him a bible. At one point I passed by a woman complaining that one of the "vote NO on 3" guys roaming the crowds with big billboards on their backs had stuck a NO on 3 sticker on her without her consent or knowledge, her friend/family member had to point it out because it was on the back of her shoulder. Also, the vendors were nearly all warehouse mass manufactured garbage. Some of the vendors selling t-shirts were selling nudity and political crap. Very few handmade crafts were being sold. Also, food vendors ripping people off. I went to a food truck and gave them me and my sisters' order in one order, it was $51. We decided to split the others up, somehow magically both came to $34 each?? When I asked why it was more expensive to order separate the woman just shrugged. I repeated my order to her and she gave the same answer. Later on I learned it was because they were tacking on an unspoken $8 tip without asking you. No prices on their menu and they wouldn't tell you how much each item was either, you just had to "trust them". If we weren't absolutely painfully hungry and didn't just wait 30m in line, we would have turned around and walked away. They're greedy and preying on people being frustrated and optionless at the festival. Kimmswick is allowing too much underhanded stuff fly under the radar and it's ruining an otherwise magical experience. I've been looking for a statement made by Kimmswick addressing these issues and if they plan on putting any new rules in place, but I'm not holding my breath. Near zero chance I'll ever be back. read more

First time and it was amazing. It was a nice festival to attend. The only issue for me was the parking. It was horrible!

I see a lot of reviews about buy and resell items for this show.... but not all exhibitors are selling crap! I'm a local crafter (Imperial) that has been displaying hand made items for 15+ years. We do personalized Growth Charts and snowman families, painted old windows....etc. We take pride in the items we make and sell. read more

Complete waste of time. Years ago, this was a great festival with handmade arts and crafts from local artists. Now it's nothing but mass produced junk at higher prices than Amazon. T-shirts, cell phone covers, purses still in the plastic wrap, tube socks, and more junk jewelry than you can imagine. read more

Hellllllllllllllllll no. Never again. The 5 star reviews of this festival are totally whack! My mother in law and I like going to crafty type festivals. We like hanging out. We decided to give this a try, and I had wanted to go to Kimmswick so why not? Traffic was bad on Sunday morning. They really need cops directing traffic off the highway. It was backed up - dangerous. Saw a bunch of sheriffs parked on the side of the road but no one directing. We parked pretty close for $5. We walked and.. holy crap.. explosion of JUNK and FRIED FOODS. That's pretty much what most of this festival is. They boast of having about 80 food vendors. Most are fried foods, kettle corn, or lemonade. There was nothing at all appetizing. We went to the Blue Owl in hopes that we could put our name in, browse, then come back. At 11am they were taking names for 3:15 seatings. Say whaaa? They had a booth with pie but I just couldn't stomach it. I felt bad for the TRUE crafter booths here because they were spread out amongst such crap. I managed to get a cute handmade fleece dog coat for Rosie. The other good thing about the festival was the actual apple butter, which we saw being stirred by the Kimmswick Historical Society. We each bought a few pints. It made me sorta mad that the historical society does all that work and is working to preserve the city, which was so bastardized by all the junk booths. I wish they'd have some guidelines for the items being handmade only instead of handmade.. in China. Only then would I go back. I was happy to leave. read more

Apple Butter Festival - Festivals Near Me - Kimmswick, Missouri

Traffic getting off the highway was a backed up, unorganized MESS!! A line 2 miles long each way on the shoulder and idiots stopping dead on the highway to try and butt closer in line. It was scary and insane to watch. An established festival like this should have a WAY better traffic management system in place. Total time on highway - about 50 min. A bit disappointed in the selection of vendors. Was hoping for a lot more homemade crafts and trinkets! What was there was a bunch of cheap perfume knock offs and bad mass produced merchandise sold by street vendors and carnies! Not much variety in food (we actually decided to eat elsewhere after leaving). The location of the food stands was not strategic as well. Lines blocked the passage and flow of traffic. And there was nowhere to sit and or enjoy food if you did buy it. Some jerk was charging people $1 to sit for 5 min on a bench - are you kidding me?? Also, the "train" riding through the streets was more than annoying and unnecessary - there is nothing to see. Why further complicate the movement of an already crowded festival. We did get some of the official apple butter and although it is very good, not sure I was worth the trouble. Something tells me it could still be acquired throughout the year and with far less trouble and frustration. The wine slushie was also good. At least it was a nice day. Wouldn't go back next year unless more authentic and talented local artisans were displaying. And I just doubt that will happen. So, stick with the Festival of the Little Hills I will! read more

So your city is hosting an event that would generate income for your struggling small town but you could not accommodate your visitors for a couple of days of parking? How selfish and ridiculous! We just left because they closed their streets for parking because of their event. This doesn't happen everyday that parked cars would actually ruin your sidewalks. Never again coming to this very unwelcoming event. And I told all these to the street volunteer that told us we cannot park besides those cars that already parked on the street. He said the homeowners were complaining and would call to tow those cars,. Selfish and narrow-minded residences of that little town. read more

I agree with the other poor reviews: fried food and vendors selling poor-quality items from China, both of which you can find at any fleamarket without the traffic/parking. It makes me sad, because if the festival raised it's standards, it could be a delight. read more

Fail... It use to be fun and nice.... Now it is crappy vendors selling useless stuff... Use to be home made unique items... They now cram in as many vendors as possible... No room for strollers and parking is HORRIBLE!!! Go to kimswick when the festival isn't going on... So much nicer... read more

Other than the absolutely horrific traffic and parking situation (apparently this festival attracts 150,000 people throughout the weekend), there is nothing I don't love about Kimmswick's Apple Butter Festival! If you've never been to Kimmswick - GO! It's a teeny tiny town of its own. It's probably only four blocks squared and it's filled cute shop after cute shop! Lots of locally made goods, a tea and spice shop and, of course, the famous Blue Owl (I would definitely encourage you to stop by and get a slice of cheesecake). Kimmswick feels similar to Historic St. Charles, but Kimmswick is even simpler and smaller - and in such an endearing way! During the festival, every street is lined with booths and tents. There's all the usually crafty things you see for sale. And, of course, apple butter! But lawn and holiday decorations seem to be particularly popular here. There's also all the usual food - gyros, funnel cakes, ribbon chips, sausages and more! read more

If you've never been to Kimmswick (or heard of Kimmswick) google it right now and plan your visit!! I go several times a year for many of the festivals this small quaint town holds and by far the biggest one and the most populated is their yearly Apple Butter Festival. Held the last weekend in October, you will see a wide arrangement of food, crafts, antiques...you name it, they have come to Kimmswick The folk are eager to help and guide you wherever you heart desires while there. We ate before hand but I recommend that you bring a few dollars and try out their famous Dough Depot or the Blue Owl. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!! read more

I witnessed the awakening and bustling of a sleepy, historic town of Kimmswick for the annual Apple Butter Festival this past weekend. Don't let the size of the town fool you: It felt like hundreds of booths of food, crafts, antiques, and various wares to satisfy every taste or palate. I even got a personalized ID pet tag and collar for my dog and climb a rockwall for free at the Festival. Everyone who manned their booths were polite and eager to help and I even got the opportunity to stir the large vat of apple butter at the Apple Butter Society booth! Come next year with an empty tummy and some cash for most purchases (the closest ATM is in the Visitor's Center and the machine charges a $2 processing fee); and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by this not-so-well-known-yet-pleasant fall Festival. Don't forget the apple butter! read more

Was great this year 2015. A lot more booths this year and more hand made crafts. There was a black smith making custom things that was really cool to watch. Horses and bounce houses for the kids too which was fun! read more

Apple Butter Festival - Awesome weather today for the festival l! - Festivals Near Me - Kimmswick, Missouri

Do you enjoy sitting in single lane traffic for an hour with no escape only to be told once you arrive that there is no parking and you must turn around? Then this festival is for you! The location is absurd. No parking anywhere around the vicinity. A complete waste of my day. AVOID unless you know a homeowner close by where you can park. read more

Ridiculous traffic and impossible parking challenges don't make up for this mediocre festival of bad crafts and cheesy merchandise. Typical fair foods and treats help the mood, and there are a handful of shops worth a visit, but not much else worth the substantial effort to get here...and the even more difficult effort to get out. The actual apple butter-making component is really small and disappointing, not as historic as we had hoped. read more

This was always a great event. This year the trend has continued by bringing in more store front items instead of a show that always had excellent crafters. I am sure I will give it one more shot next year but with the decline it will probably be my last read more

Epic fail! A quaint little town that a flea market threw up on! Carnival food, fried, expensive crap. Bamboo pillow vendors (this must be the new fad) every 10 feet. Will NEVER go to a festival in Kimmswick again! read more

I had never been before so I didn't know what to expect and there were a lot of people! However, traffic and parking were managed well ($5 to park but not far at all). There were lots of vendor and a bunch of families had strollers with no problems. They had a little (paid) petting zoo and bounce house for kids and they sold all kind of amazing looking food, beer pitchers and free wine sampling for the adults. I think they handled the crowd well and I hope to go again at some point. read more

Complete waste of time. Looong traffic lines into town leading to absolute nightmare parking. 30% of the vendors featured handmade items. The remaining 70% was total junk (knock off t-shirts, sheets, shoes, Oriental Trading Company resellers). The only portion of the festival that featured apple butter was one small pavillion. Everywhere else it was like a flea market with carnival food. Never, ever, again! read more

All the negative comments regarding this years Festival are totally justified. We will try Kimmswick again without the festival. Major disappointment. Too bad I can't give it less than one star. read more

I will give this festival one star only because of the organization of the parking, shuttles to and from the festival and the weather was perfect. Other than that, it was a great disappointment. This was our first year to attend and we were very excited about it. Ten minutes into the festival, total disappointment. VERY limited handmade crafts and lots and lots of knock-off purses, clothing, bed sheets, shower enclosures, cell phone accessories, etc. Less booths and quality handmade items would make this a much better event. Unfortunately, we have checked this OFF our list of fall festivals!!! We will be back to visit the quaint quality shops. read more

I am disappointed, there are more and more commercial vendors. This event is not a true craft show.