WESTMINSTER — When and where do politicians roam amid the swirling scent of fired up grills and funnel cakes? Where do thousands sway to the sounds of bluegrass music and pleasure-seekers walk from wood-carving stations to face-painting kiosks?

On the first weekend of September on Main Street, that place is Westminster.

The 48th annual South Carolina Apple Festival stepped up its schedule Friday with a jam-packed day of events starting at 11 a.m. Apple growers sold their product by the bag to thousands of people ranging from toddlers to grandparents, who sought early weekend fun at food vendors, arts and crafts spots and local businesses.

For James McDaniel of Ables Orchard in Long Creek, this Apple Festival is a welcome relief to a dismal season last year due to a winter freeze.

“It’s a lot better than last year,” McDaniel said. “We’ve had a real good season. The size of the apples wasn’t what we wanted because of lack of rain, but you can’t be picky.”

This was McDaniel’s sixth year selling at the festival, and he said he looks forward to the event every year.

“It’s really wonderful,” he said. “You get to meet new people, have a good time and you also can let people know that we’ve still got apples. We still have them in Long Creek.”

The festival provided entrepreneurs from across the Upstate who were looking to showcase their sometimes relatively unknown foods and products. Da’Drean Hughey and his father, David, of Greenville, were giving free samples of their homemade Big Ma’s Cha Cha Relish.

“Festivals are great because no one ever knows what this stuff is that we’re handing out,” Da’Drean said. “But I’ve been eating this since I was 11 years old, and it’s fun to see people try it and like it.”

The Apple Festival Parade drew thousands of onlookers who lined Main Street to get a glance at participants like grand marshals Waymon and Sarah DeFoor, state Sen. Thomas Alexander, Rep. Bill Whitmire, U.S. Congressman Gresham Barrett and the West-Oak High School marching band and Junior ROTC.

School District of Oconee County Superintendent Mike Lucas, who has been going to the festival since his arrival in the county four years ago, praised the apple festival for its variety of events and opportunities for fellowship, including Westminster Mayor Derek Hodgin’s brainchild, the Oconee County Math Challenge.

The 1 p.m. Westminster Rotary Luncheon featured Barrett, Thomas, Whitmire, Hodgin and South Carolina’s Secretary of Transportation Buck Limehouse, who all spoke briefly, as did Westminster Chamber of Commerce Director Sandra Powell.

For Westminster-native Barrett, coming home to the longest running continuous annual festival in South Carolina was an energizing experience.

“To come home and see good friends and family is a great way to charge my batteries,” Barrett said. “This is like a family reunion to me. I grew up with most of these people. So it’s just a great opportunity to not only get recharged but also promote my hometown at the same time.”