American pioneer nurseryman John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was the star of the show at Johnny Appleseed Days in Paradise Saturday.
The harvest festival, which began in 1888, is the oldest harvest festival in California and celebrates the life and times of Johnny Appleseed. It took place Saturday and Sunday at Terry Ashe Park in Paradise. There was a food court, vendors selling tons of homemade items, apple pie to eat, children’s carnival games, and speeches from none other than Johnny Appleseed himself, played by Ken Prentiss.
Prentiss has been playing Appleseed since 1989. He is a retired teacher who now visits events and schools to educate kids about Appleseed.
“I try to draw them into it all,” Prentiss said. “I try to be as authentic as possible.”
Prentiss wore a pot on his head, carried a walking stick and walked around barefoot to honor Appleseed. He sat on a bale of hay in the Games Plaza and told Appleseed’s story to kids.
Vendors sold everything from arts and crafts to food to gift items.
Terri Sue, of Terri Sue’s Toffee Company in Chico, was one of the more than 100 vendors selling wares at the festival. Terri Sue sold toffee, fudge, caramel apples, caramel squares, giant marshmallows and cookies to folks at the event.
“I was born and raised in Chico,” Sue said. “We use local nuts. Everything is made in Chico.”
Sue and her husband, Ronn Van Dusen, sell their goodies online at https://tstoffee.com/ and at several businesses in Chico. They cater events such as weddings and the desserts are sold at Maisie Jane’s Gift Shop as well as Sweet Confections in Chico.
“My husband helps when he can,” Sue said. “He’s a business consultant at Butte College.”
Apple pie was the big draw at the festival. Festival goers stood in line at the Apple Pie Pavilion to buy whole pies, slices of pie, apple pie a la mode and apple pie kits.
Bobbi Weiglein sat at a table in the Apple Pie Pavilion and enjoyed a slice of apple pie. The pie was made by the Chico Chamber of Commerce and the apples hailed from Noble Orchards in Paradise.
“I come up to Chico every year to support the community,” Weiglein said. “After the fires I come to every activity on the ridge to support them.”
Weiglein planned to Christmas shop among the many vendors after enjoying her slice.
“I like to see if I can get Christmas shopping done,” she said. “I like to get a headstart on Christmas.”
Anna Hark and Jose Cabrera, both students at Ridgeview High School in Magalia, worked the bean bag toss at the kids’ carnival games section. Hark volunteered at the festival last year and it was Cabrera’s first time.
“We’ve had lots of kids,” Hark said.
Children enjoyed the games and some listened to Prentiss’ talk.
Nine-year-old Kaden Murray listened intently to the 11 a.m. Johnny Appleseed speech and walked away with a drawing of Appleseed to color.
“It was good, I liked it,” he said.
It was Murray’s first time at the event. He and his sister won several prizes at the games. Murray attends Paradise Ridge Elementary School in Paradise.
Christine Simpson bought the special apple pie kit at the Apple Pie Pavilion. The kit included fresh apples from Noble Orchards, a limited-edition commemorative tea towel and Paradise Apple Pie Spice Mix.
She said her husband is the better baker of the two and plans to turn the apples into a delicious pie.
Simpson, a recent transplant, thoroughly enjoyed the festival. She planned to visit the vendors and the food court.
“We just moved to Paradise,” Simpson said. “I thought it was a great way to get out in the community and see what it has to offer.”
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Johnny Appleseed Days bring life and fun to Paradise - Chico Enterprise-Record
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