Sunday, October 20, Brookside Nature Center held its annual “Apple Festival” from 11 am to 4 pm.  There was apple pressing to make apple cider, apple cooking to make a type of caramel apple sauce and apple turnovers, apple tasting, apple crafts and lots of fun stuff.  This festival was geared for the very young child and most of the attendees were children ages 1 to 9 (along with their parents and grandparents).  All in all, the festival brought just over 600 visitors to Brookside Nature Center.  Brookside Nature Center asked if MCBA would have someone attend and answer questions about the observation hive.  Last year Chris Costa did this for our club and we greatly appreciate the work he does.  This year, I stepped in and volunteered to man the observation hive.  I brought along my young helper, my god-son Tristen, along with 4 of his small bee suits for the kids to try on.  The bee suits were a big hit with the little kids -- along with finding the queen bee in the observation hive and the free honey tasting.  I showed the kids one of my insect displays with bees, wasps and flies and even some of the adults found the large wasps scary.  I also passed out some of the leftover recipe cards we had from the County Fair and the Harvest Festival and tried to sell the last of the club’s commercial honey.  I was able to sell another $81 worth of the honey.  If you get a chance next year to attend this “Apple Festival,” I think you’ll have a great time as everyone left this year with a smile on their face.