Nothing quite kicks autumn into high gear like the first October weekend of apple-picking season and the annual Reformed Church of New Paltz’s Apple Festival on Historic Huguenot Street. The pristine weather, as sharp and crisp as the 169 homemade apple pies -- the women of the church slaved over and sold for a mere $12 -- drew droves of apple lovers and community members to the festival this past Saturday afternoon. In fact, the demand was so great for the infamous youth choir’s apple fritters that by noon, they had completely run out and had to make hundreds more. “It’s been busy all day,” said Madeline Finnegan, who was helping to prepare and sell the hot apple fritters on the lawn of the church. “We can’t make enough,” she said, pointing to the long line forming behind their modest fritter stand.

Former village Mayor Tom Nyquist and his wife Corinne, who was just crowned chairwoman of the Democratic Party again, enjoyed the bevy of food choices including chili, veggie burgers and fresh local garden salads that were prepared and sold by the Reformed flock.

“It’s practically in our backyard,” said Nyquist, who lives on Huguenot Street. “We come every year because it’s a lovely event, with a real neighborhood, small town feel about it. People are friendly and welcoming and I love their pies.”

Nyquist’s daughter, Lynn Bergstraesser, remembers the days when there were vending machines in the New Paltz schools that sold local apples.

“From Duzine all the way through high school I remember these vending machines that were stocked with fresh, delicious apples from Dressel farms, just outside of the cafeterias. I always wondered why they got rid of those? I loved them.”

Young school friends ran around the festival, playing hide-and-go-seek and capture the flag, until they got hungry enough to stop and grab some apple treats.

“I love the apple festival because everybody gets together and has a fun time, which is what we do in New Paltz,” said seventh grader Charlie Bason. “And the food is amazing. You can’t find it quite like this anywhere else.”

His friend, Nicholas Marshall concurred. “I love the apple fritters and the apple pies,” he said.

“And the caramel apples,” added their friend Sean Geisler, 10.

Parents, grandparents, friends and kids all sat on folding chairs, or on the lawn, eating their fritters or plates of hot apple crisp and listening to the live jazz being played on the grand stone steps of the church.

The street vendors offered everything from farm-fresh food, preserves, to handcrafted quilts, woodwork and yard sale-type items as fundraisers for Family of New Paltz and the youth choir.

“I come every year because of the vendors,” said Marian Cappillino, the veteran New Paltz Town Clerk. “I started out with Twice Blessed (the thrift shop) where I found some treasures, and then made my way through the vendors on the streets, where I picked up a delicious homemade candle and now I get to enjoy wonderful food and friends.”