Hundreds of made-from-scratch cherry pies will tempt early risers when St. Mark’s Anglican Church throws its annual community festival next week.
The Cherry Festival returns July 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church’s Byron Street grounds, offering cherries, pies, a barbecue, children’s games and a new silent auction.
Admission is free, and all proceeds help keep the 221-year-old church open and its historic stained-glass windows glowing for residents and visitors.
“The highlight is the cherry pies, which are made from local cherries by volunteers at the church, and this year we have 550 pies made,” said Douglas.
Those pies took two months to bake, with St. John’s Anglican Church lending kitchen space to meet demand. The cherries themselves are coming primarily from Vineland and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
A pre-sale of treasures and auction items runs from 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 4, in Addison Hall, letting shoppers skip Saturday’s early-morning line.
A wide “Treasures” tent will hold china, crystal, art, linens, clothing and fine jewellery donated to the church. Books, CDs and puzzles will fill another booth.
The bake table, children’s zone, and, of course, fresh cherries for sale, will be steps from a barbecue that rarely cools before closing, according to Douglas.
“It’s just a wonderful community event, and where people often see friends, neighbours, they bring their children and always have a good time,” said Douglas.
Fort George’s Fife and Drum Corps will play at noon, and a DJ will keep music rolling the rest of the day.
“In the past, I stood at the gate watching them come in, and I saw smiles everywhere,” said Douglas.
The church offers guided tours to visitors who wish to explore NOTL’s oldest building, where Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock once worshipped, and see Ontario’s oldest stained-glass window.
“It’s important as a fundraiser for our church operations, but it’s equally important that it’s a community event that is valued by the community,” said Douglas.
“We get many visitors from all over the world who come to the festival because they happen to be in town.”
Organizers suggest arriving early, as cherry pies often go quickly.
