Amid the aroma, festivities and fun of Medford Apple Festival 2013, Keri Oldfield set up shop in one of the many white tents that lined Kirby’s Mill.
Oldfield, the owner of Rancocas Woods Craft Co-Op in Mt. Laurel, was just one of many vendors who were hoping to boost their sales and reputation of their businesses at this year’s festival.
“I love this festival,” she said. “We’ve been doing this festival for a good 15 years. I love it here. It’s one of my best shows.”
Oldfield enjoys everything from the people to the atmosphere. She said it’s not only great to connect to the community each and every year, but her business itself is a huge beneficiary.
Oldfield’s sentiment about the positive business aspects of the festival is one shared by the many vendors at this year’s event.
According to Bill Stauts, the president of the Medford Historical Society, there were originally 98 vendors scheduled for the event, not including the food vendors. Many of these vendors come from neighboring towns to Medford in hopes of getting their business out in the community.
Stauts acknowledged that some vendors did not show for fear of rain in the forecast. Nevertheless, the event remained jam packed from the morning to afternoon. Volunteers, including Scout troops, high school and college students, as well as members of the Medford Historical Society, helped the event go on without a hitch.
While many of the vendors are traditional businesses, some are public servants looking for support from local residents.
Medford’s Union Fire Company set up a tent for the first time at the festival. Joe Merefield, the president of the company, said the company decided to come to the festival in advance of its upcoming 200th anniversary in 2014.
“We’re celebrating our 200th, so we’re trying to sell stuff for that,” Merefield said. “We’re just trying to keep our faces in the community so we can show everybody who we are and hope we can get some volunteers. “
While it was the fire company’s first year at the event, Merefield is certainly no stranger to attending. He remembers coming to the event when he was a child and loves coming to meet members of the community, old and young, each year.
“I think everyone just enjoys it,” he said. “It’s the fall, coming here, seeing the old antiques here. Everyone just enjoys it.”
The draw of the Apple Festival goes far beyond Medford and Burlington County as a whole. Oldfield said she has buyers who drive to Medford from quite a distance to visit her each autumn.
Oldfield’s co-op also has a show that runs in Ocean City. Despite the allure of the Shore, she said her heart remains at the Apple Festival.
“I can’t leave,” Oldfield said. “We have a co-op, so there’s a lot of crafters in our store. Some of them go to Ocean City, but never me. I’ll stay.”
