Apple this, apple that, and more at Mystic festival

Mystic ― On the second day of Olde Mistick Village’s Apple Festival Sunday, Anne and John DiCiccio, of East Hartford, and daughter Roni, of Waterford, shared a shady bench, and ate “gigundo” (jie-gun-do) apple crisps.

“Gigundo” ― which Anne explained means a cross between gigantic and enormous ― was how she referred to the apple crisps, which the three had purchased from a nearby booth ran by popular Gales Ferry-based apple orchard Holmberg Orchards, and now ate on the bench, away from thousands who walked by.

As music drifted in the air from three bands playing simultaneously, people who passed by wandered the village, targeting their next apple treat from a selection of pies, crisps, crumbles and hot and cold ciders. Meanwhile the DiCiccios, having already found theirs, reflected on the annual festival, which this weekend brought thousands of visitors, and more than 40 vendors, together in appreciation of one fruit.

“There’s nothing like it in New England,” Anne DiCiccio said. “Everything is perfect. Especially the food booths. All the baked goods are great.”

“It’s a great time of year,” added John, her husband.

This was the third time the festival has been held in the village.

But it was the first for David and Sherrie Crompton, owner’s of nearby bakery Anchor Cafe and Sweets, located on Greenmanville Avenue. Around noon, between fiddling with wires to a row of fryers and a warmer full of stewed apples, the power to which had been spotty all weekend, David said the festival has been “a lot of fun.”

“Everybody’s been really nice,“ he added.

A worker next to him used metal tongs to grab pieces of fried dough from two vats of oil, and placed them into a tray of paper towels to dry. Once cool, they were served to customers with a stewed apple topping. They also served apple crumble, another popular item they served with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Sherrie remarked that the festival was perfect for the season, which is heavily associated with apples and a feeling of coziness. She said the festival captured that, and her business would be back next year, “without hesitation.”

Close to Anchor Cafe’s tent, and abutting the duck pond, was Brown Dog Farm, based in New Milford. Owners Doug Timm and Robert Lieberman were selling seven kinds of apples. Just plain apples. No butter, brown sugar or other frills.

“We’ve got Empires, Macouns, Galas, Honeycrisp, Yellow Delicious, Sungold and Winecrisp,” Timm said.

Timm, asked what his favorite part of apple season, said “I guess just eating them.”

Carol Thompkins, of Oakdale, was buying their apples, and said it was a “beautiful day to walk outside, and support local businesses.”

Jenn Annello, of Waterford drank out of cup that contained apple cider, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and a dusting of brown sugar.

“This is delicious,” she said. “This is a cider float.”

At her feet sat a bag of apple crisps and cranberry walnut bread.

Annello, summing up her experience, said the “music’s good. The food’s good. There’s quite a variety of things.”

d.drainville@theday.com