With an apple-topped walking stick in hand, Johnny Appleseed is the festival's good will ambassador, greeting visitors, offering apples to children and sharing a bit of history with fair-goers.

Featuring freshly baked apple pies, musical entertainment and a wide variety of items for sale, SBCC's Apple Festival takes place rain or shine on the green surrounding the historic meeting house and inside the adjacent parish house.

The day before, church members gather to assemble and bake the fair's trademark apple pies.

"We made about 160 pies last year," said Jennifer Naylor, who is once again chairing the festival with her husband, Ed.

"We're hoping to make that many again this year."

The "Knit-Wits," a group of talented needlewomen of the church, will offer an assortment of hand-knit sweaters, hats, scarves and mittens, plus handmade aprons, including mother-and-daughter sets.

Raffle tickets will be sold for a quilt made of brilliant batik fabrics in the Pathway Star pattern, with the winning ticket to be drawn in December at the church's Victorian Tea.

In addition to the pies and a variety of other baked goods, there will be an entire room filled with vintage costume jewelry, and another overflowing with used books and DVDs.

A "golden elephant" room will feature a premium assortment of china, silver and glassware, plus small antiques and collectibles; a "white elephant" room offers household goods at bargain prices.

Outside on the church green, the Country Store will feature fresh apples and apple cider, 8" and 12" potted mums and locally produced maple syrup.

There will be a variety of woodcrafts, including birdhouses, birdfeeders and apple-themed home decor.

The Bristol Olde Tyme Fiddlers will entertain from 11 a.m. to noon in the meeting house.

A select group of area artisans will be on hand with hand-crafted jewelry, quilts, hand-painted gourds, knit and crocheted items, fairy apparel and decor, pewter jewelry and figurines, American Girl doll clothes and more.

The popular "Pick-a-Prize" table will feature drawings for gift certificates for rounds of golf, restaurant meals, services and merchandise donated by local businesses.

An accessories booth will offer gently used but still fashionable handbags, belts, and more.

Children's toys, games and electronics will be featured at "Kids' World." Young children may try their chances at "Pick-a-Pocket," picking a small prize for 50 cents.

A sit-down luncheon will be served in the Gathering Room of the parish house, with barbecued pork sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers, and turkey, tuna and egg salad sandwiches, with homemade apple crisp and pumpkin cake for dessert.

An outdoor snack bar will be open for the duration of the festival.

"The Apple Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for fun and fellowship," said Jennifer. "It's a great day to slow down, take a break from the hectic pace of life, and enjoy some time with friends and family."

The event offers something for all generations, she added.

"It's so rewarding," she said. "It's great to see the kids having fun, moms and dads doing some shopping and seniors sitting down with a piece of pie - everyone with a smile on their face."

A limited number of vendor spaces for artisans and craftspeople are still available at $40 for a 10-by-10-foot space or $60 for a 10-by-20-foot space, and may be arranged by e-mailing to jdunn463@hotmail.com.

The church welcomes donations of small antiques, fine china and glassware for the golden elephant room; jewelry of any style and vintage for the jewelry room; books and DVDs, as well as children's items other than clothing.

Donors will receive an acknowledgment of their gift for tax purposes. Pick-up can be arranged by calling Jennifer Naylor, 203-264-3646.

South Britain Congregational Church is located on Route 172 at the corner of East Flat Hill Road, north of Exit 14 of I-84. Parking is available in the lot across the street from the meeting house.

Those seeking additional information may call the church office, 203-264-5890, or visit www.southbritainchurch.org.