From apple blossoms
in the spring to
fully mature apples
in the fall the
little town of St.
George in Ontario
comes deliciously
alive during the
third week-end of
September.
The Apple Harvest
Festival 2008 was
the 24th
annual experience.
The ‘core’ value of
the festival is
“something a-peeling
for everyone” and
they aren’t kidding.
Everything is apple
from pies to
dumplings to
crumbles to cider to
sauce.
Not only does the
festival present all
of the apple
varieties but added
to those are crafts,
antiques, games for
the kids, pony
rides, all provided
by 100 vendors.
An annual feature
for the opening
exercises and for a
following concert
was the Salvation
Army Band, Jubilee
Brass. 35 members
rose early and
appeared from all
corners of South
Western Ontario to
be ready for the
9:45 a.m. downbeat.
The Band presented a
welcome splash of
color in their
maroon jackets and
Army caps. Yes
folks- Army caps.
It was hard to keep
our attention on the
music at hand since
we were situated
right next to the M
and M hot dog stand.
Those smells mixed
with freshly cooked
bread and pies made
one want to forget
top Cs and chromatic
runs.
We tried to get a
couple of members
to enter the
scarecrow contest
but there were no
takers.
Jubilee Brass began
the program with two
versions of O
Canada, one in
French and the other
in English . It was
hard to tell which
was which.
B/M Jim Gordon
successfully tried
to present a cross
section of music to
cater to the varied
tastes of the
fairgoers leading
him to begin the
program with the
allegro from “ Music
for the Royal
Fireworks”. “ In
tune with Thy
divinity” also known
as “Danny boy”
followed as did “The
Hallelujah Strand”.
Two Hymn tunes were
presented;
“Finlandia” and
“Amazing Grace”.
After a very short
breather the band
presented “Climb
every mountain” from
the “Sound of Music”
The march “ Praising
my Saviour” reminded
the listeners of the
great Christian song
“Blessed
Assurance”.
A new arrangement of
‘How great thou art”
by Bill Gordon was
presented as well as
Bill Himes “ Prayer
of Thanksgiving”.
The program
concluded with the
great old march
“Amsterdam
Congress.”
