#Middlebury #AppleHarvestMusicFest #StJohnoftheCross
St. John of the Cross Parish’s first Apple Harvest Music Fest with performer Marty Q and his band will be Saturday, Sept. 16, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Shepardson Community Center on Whittemore Road. Admission is free.
The Apple Harvest Music Fest will begin with DJ Royal Beats from 2 to 4 p.m. Lip syncing and dance contests will be held for members of the audience, with prizes going to contest winners.
Marty Q and his band will perform a range of top 40s, big band, and jazz hits from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Concertgoers are asked to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on while they listen to the concert. In the event of rain, the Apple Harvest Music Fest will be held inside Shepardson Community Center.
Marty Q is a popular pop/rock and jazz singer-songwriter, saxaphonist, and guitarist who has been voted New Haven County’s best local musician four times. He has reached No. 12 on Billboard Airplay charts with his hit song “Table for 2” in the Smooth Jazz genre.
The Royal Beats are a mother-and-son DJ duo, Stephanie Stardust and DJ Verse. Stephanie has been in the music business for almost nine years and began working with her son three years ago. They cover events from karaoke nights to weddings. They recently won the “Best of Hartford Magazine” Readers’ Poll for Best Wedding DJs of 2017.
Throughout the event, refreshments will be sold, including chicken sandwiches, steak sandwiches, Frankie’s hot dogs, french fries, fried dough, apple fritters, fruit cup, and popcorn. A bake sale will offer a variety of dessert items.
The music fest also will feature a raffle drawing at 4 p.m., as well as a silent auction and vendor booths featuring a variety of arts, crafts and other items for sale. A “selfie station” will be set up for attendees at the event to take individuals, couples, families, and friends. Children will enjoy a variety of old-fashioned games to play, as well a pumpkin-decorating booth. Baskets of apples and potted chrysanthemums also will be for sale.
All proceeds from the event will benefit St. John of the Cross Parish. The event is organized by the Apple Harvest Music Fest Committee, with the assistance of the Father Loftus Council of the Knights of Columbus and other volunteers. The Apple Harvest Music Fest is sponsored by the law firm of Moore, O’Brien & Foti of Middlebury.
