The 34th Annual Old Tyme Apple Festival added some fall color to a gray day on Saturday, celebrating an autumn tradition amidst rainstorms in Versailles.
The annual festival, hosted by the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce, garnered the honor of best festival in Missouri in the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives' 2013 Rural Missouri publication.
This year's festival theme was "A Taste of the Country."
The celebration kicked off Thursday night, with the first showing of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Royal Theatre. The community play continued through Saturday night, and will have additional 7 p.m. performances Oct. 10-12.
Among Friday's events were the crowning of the Apple Festival queen and king; an apple pie-baking contest; and a sock hop. Saturday kicked off with a 5K, 2-mile walk and half-mile children's fun run at Versailles High School. While the rain delayed its start, the Apple Festival parade took off from the corner of Brown Road and Highway 52, featuring a variety of community floats and vehicles.
Festival goers enjoyed more than 200 craft, food and vendor booths; the pie-baking contest auction; a children's fun zone; a tractor and engine display; and a compact figure eight race in the evening.
The fun continues today with the Apple Festival Golf Tournament at Rolling Hills Country Club, which tees off at noon.