Mayor Brian Ostrander says he is thrilled with the success of this year’s Applefest celebration.
Speaking to our newsroom on Sunday, he gave the event a glowing review from top to bottom, ”The turnout for Applefest this year was extraordinary. Whether it was the hundreds of classic cars at the Applefest Car Show, the continuous family fun in the Children’s Village, or the incredible support for our local vendors and civic partners like, the community spirit was palpable. Applefest continues to showcase the very best of Brighton’s hospitality, pride, and partnership.”
He also made the following post to Facebook to comment on the weekend’s events, including the first game for the Brighton Vikings!
OSTRANDER POST FROM FACEBOOK –
What an incredible Applefest weekend across Brighton! From start to finish, this weekend showcased everything that makes our community so special—great traditions, high-energy local sports, incredible food, and neighbours coming together.
We kicked off the weekend with another wonderful Ecumenical Service, setting a reflective and community-minded tone for the days ahead.
Friday night brought the roar of the crowd for the home opener of our new Jr. A team, the Brighton Vikings! It was a true honour to be out on the ice to perform the ceremonial puck drop to help welcome Jr. A hockey to Brighton and kick off what promises to be an exciting season. And of course Brighton’s own Brighton speedway began their 2-day Applefest shoot-out.
Saturday was packed with Applefest traditions old and new! The downtown core was buzzing, capped off by a highlight of the weekend—the Apple Feast at The Barns of Brighton. It was a wonderful evening celebrating local food, regional producers, and great company in a breathtaking rural venue. I was honoured to present an official recognition certificate to our hosts during the event to celebrate their dedication to our local agricultural and tourism community.
The Vikings kept the momentum going on the ice with a strong “second wind” performance later in the weekend, and we wrapped things up today with a fantastic, family-filled afternoon at Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church for their annual Applefest Family Fun Day!
A massive thank you to all the volunteers, organizers, local venues, service clubs, and municipal staff who worked around the clock to make Applefest 2026 such a roaring success. Brighton’s spirit was on full display all weekend long!


