Apples, apples, apples  Red, yellow, green and striped, they鈥檒l all be there for people to taste at Heritage Apple Day in Derby Reach Regional Park.  From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Heritage Area lawn near the Houston trail head on Allard Crescent will be the site of apple tasting, musicians, artists, and children鈥檚 activities.

Tours of Derby鈥檚 orchards at 11 a.mm, 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. will take walkers back more than 100 years in time, sharing stories of the earliest site of settler agriculture in southwestern British Columbia.  Guided tours of historic sites at 11:30 and 12:30 will help illuminate the many layers of settlement that make Derby a significant British Columbia.

Royal engineer re-enactments, fiddlers from the 91原创 Community Music School, and children鈥檚 activities provided by 91原创 Environmental Partners, Fort 91原创 National Historic Site, and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks will make this a fun event for everyone of every age.

New this year will be a black powder demonstration at 12:30 p.m. Tim Watkins will show off his skill at filling and firing a musket, telling tales of Royal Engineers and 1858. Check out the just-released Royal Engineers brochure put out by the Derby Reach/Brae Island Park Association. Watkins and well-known historian Jane Watt have worked together with the Park Association and Metro Parks to bring to print the stories of the Royal Engineers鈥� time in Derby.

Adding to the fun, for the second year, artists will be painting throughout the park:  in the orchards, on the beach, along the trails and beside the historic buildings.  Take the opportunity to watch artists at work and ask questions about their paintings and their style.

And, of course, it wouldn鈥檛 be Apple Day without sampling the wares of local apple growers.  Visitors can taste heritage varieties of apples.  For the sixth year in a row, Derry Walsh and Laurelle Oldford-Downes, as well as experts from BC Tree Fruits, will offer expert advice on apple trees, with even a few heritage varieties for sale.  Visitors can learn about bees, watch cider demos, and see how long an apple peel they can make.

Check out the new Heritage Orchard beside Houston House:  the new orchard is 鈥渇loating,鈥� so as not to disturb historic artifacts that may lie beneath the site.  At 12 p.m., there will be thank you ceremony where Vancity, the Rotary Club of 91原创 Sunrise, and the Township of 91原创 will be recognized for their contributions to the orchard project.

This free event is sponsored by the Derby Reach/Brae Island Parks Association with the assistance of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, the Pacific Parklands Foundation, the Township of 91原创, and Tim Hortons, who will provide free coffee and timbits from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.