WARWICK - This Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Town of Warwick will roll out the red carpet for an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 visitors to the 17th annual Applefest. The traditional festival, Warwick's largest and most well attended event, has been held since 1988 to celebrate the local apple harvest. In June 2002, the American Bus Association voted Applefest one of the top 10 festivals on its list of best events in North America. No one knows the exact number of visitors for sure, but given the fact that many people arrive and leave at different times and that they are also taking side trips to see other attractions, the estimate of 30,000 to 40,000 is probably close to the mark. Considering that the village of Warwick has a population of nearly 6,600, traffic to and from the village is expected to be unusually heavy with the influx of visitors. The Warwick Police Department urges residents to avoid driving near or through the Village. There are special designated parking areas at Memorial Park, the Middle School and the Park Avenue School with shuttle service to and from the festival as required. Transportation for the disabled will be available at the Middle School parking area. Look for the signs. Coordinator Betty Garrison and her committee have been planning for the annual festival, which plays host to over 240 craft vendors and 40 food vendors, since last fall. Scheduled events include music and dancers, a strolling mime, a variety of free entertainment and children's rides. Many local business and organizations will sponsor individual promotions. Keene Publishing, home of Moo Press Children's Books in Warwick, will have two booths with author appearances and book signings. And the traditional apple pie contest, open to both juniors and adults, starts at 10 a.m. Judging begins at 11:30 and the pies will be sold by the slice as soon as the winners are announced. Once again the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and The Warwick Valley Community Center will continue their tradition to ring in the apple-picking season with their all new Visitors' Guide for Applefest 2005. "Both residents and visitors look forward to seeing the dynamic area businesses, diverse exhibitors and events that fill the pages of this publication," said Janine Dethmers, marketing director of Corporate Impressions. "And Carol Fauerbach's winning apple illustration graces the front cover of this year's brochure with a cheerful burst of color." Local artist Carol Fauerbach was the winner of the 2005 Applefest logo illustration contest. Fauerbach, an artist who works and resides in Warwick, attended Maryland Institute College of Fine Arts and San Jose State University. Since then she has continued her 30-year freelance art career in drawing, painting, photography, silk screening and print. The 32-page free guide includes the schedule of events, visitor information, a listing of craft exhibitors, food vendors and a user-friendly map of the festival area. Dethmers, who managed this year's project for the Chamber and Community Center from her Warwick office, was selected for her background in corporate marketing, public relations, sales promotion and special events planning. The brochures will be available to the public during Applefest at parking lots, information booths, and many local businesses. The festival committee trusts local residents will not be too upset by any inconvenience. Applefest is a major fund raiser and much needed proceeds from the event are used for town-wide community projects and non-profit organizations.