Apple Butter Festival at Historic Los Rios Rancho Friday, November 29 - Sunday, December 1, 2013
 
Riley's at Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Rd. #13, Yucaipa, CA. 92399
Tel: (909) 797-1005
losriosrancho.com

Oak Glen (Yucaipa), CA - The smell of apple butter is in the air during this crisp, fall season out on the ranch. Rileys at Los Rios Rancho pays tribute to a delicious spread made from fresh harvest apples during California's apple season each November.

There's no better place or way to honor tradition than at this historic California rancho, with its annual Apple Butter Festival held Thanksgiving weekend. (The event will be held each year after Thanksgiving Day, unless otherwise noted).

Making apple butter has been a long tradition spanning several hundred years in America. Pioneer families made  apple butter from the last of the season's crop. When canned properly, it lasts longer than applesauce and makes a fantastic gift or family treat. In colonial times apple butter was a practical way to preserve the apples throughout the year and a pleasurable way to preserve community spirit.

Families are invited to share the tradition on Thanksgiving weekend at Rileys at Los Rios Rancho. Hands-on demonstrations of apple butter making in a big copper kettle outdoors, visitors can "start the snitz" and "add the money". If you don't know what that means, you will learn on a visit to the farm. There will be pioneer crafts and games, music, carriage rides, and other fun activities rekindling memories of a simpler time.

An old-fashioned hoedown Saturday night will feature music by the Riley's Mountaineer Band.

The Festival admission is free (small fees for some activities). Tickets are required for the hoedown on Saturday night and include a supper of Pumpkin Bread and Harvest Soup.

For information, or to purchase hoedown tickets, log on to  losriosrancho.com or Call (909) 797-1005.

Oak Glen and Los Rios Rancho include: History, early settlers and pioneer ranches. Pictures private collections, the Glen's journey from agriculture to agritourism, and from a purely farming community to Southern California destination events planning and marketing.