WESTMINSTER — The freshness of the apples when you bite into it was the key to Crystal Hare taking home first place in the 48th annual South Carolina Apple Festival Baking Contest.

The judges agreed that Hare’s Easy Crème Dutch Apple Dessert with its big chunks of chilled apples was the deciding factor in awarding Hare the top prize of $50.

“I’ve never entered before and this was the first time I made this recipe,” Hare said.

Hare said she likes to cook for her two sons, Colton, 12 and Chance 7 when not riding horses or managing a construction company.

Second place and $25 went to Laura Entrekin for her Fried Apple Pizza and third place and $10 went to Peggy Simpson for her Mile High Apple Pie.

The judges, including Westminster Mayor Derek Hodgin, tasted 27 entries in the adult division and seven entries in the youth baking contest.

Emma Nicholson won $25 dollars for first place in the youth competition followed by Amber Duncan, who won $15 and Ryann Fincannon, who was third and took home $10.

“It’s been part of the apple festival for a long time,” said Sandra Powell, director of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce. “It’s part of our small town life that makes Westminster a wonderful place to live.”

The South Carolina Apple Festival was started in 1961 and it is expected to draw thousands to the western Oconee County city Friday and Saturday who will enjoy more than 100 arts, crafts and food vendors, kiddie rides and the championship rodeo.

Friday also features the annual Westminster Rotary Club’s lunch at Westminster Baptist Church that is always a must-attend event for area politicians.

This year’s guest speaker is H.B. Buck Limehouse, secretary of transportation for the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Also at 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Apple Festival parade heads down U.S. 123 and toward Main Street.

There is also an Antique Mall and collectors’ booths on Main Street next to Dad’s and Lad’s and a Classic Car Show and Cruise-In sponsored by Oconee County’s CrimeStoppers between Hardees and the Westminster Post Office on U.S. 123.

A motorcycle poker run will hold its registration from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at West-Oak High School and the ride will cover all four Oconee County high schools plus tour through the apple region of the county and its hills and mountains. The winners will be announced at the Apple Festival downtown.

The Poker Run called the “Ride for Reading, ‘Riting and “Rithmatic” supports the Education Foundation of Oconee County and its mini-grant program for teachers.