Finding the Best Fall Apple Festivities for the Whole Family
New York and the Northeast
If you’re headed to New York, A few miles west of Albany, you could go to the Capital District Annual Apple Festival & Craft Fair (http://www.northeastshowpro.com/Applefestival.htm) at Altamont on September 30-October 1. Along with the crafts, music and cooking demonstrations, they promise wine, cider, and fruit juice tasting.
California and the West Coast
On the West Coast, head for central California, where the town of Springville is putting on its annual apple festival (http://springville.ca.us/applefest/) October 21-22. Participate in the apple pie eating contest, pack your jogging gear for the Springville Apple Run, or just check out their nationally renowned antique shops, perfect for parents and adults. The town is close to Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, perfect for hiking, picnicking, camping, and exploring (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/)
Arkansas and the South
Get some great and popular music with your treats at the Arkansas Apple Festival (http://www.arkansasapplefestival.org/) September 30 through October 8 in the town of Lincoln, Arkansas. The schedule lists bluegrass music, country music, square dancing and gospel singing. After you’ve eaten your fill and tried out a dance, the state’s tourism Web site (http://www.arkansas.com/) has details on hunting, fishing and camping no matter where in the state you’re headed.
Massachusetts and New England
Pioneers in many areas owed their apple orchards to an apple missionary by the name of Johnny Appleseed (http://www.appleseed.org/johnny.html) who planted apple seeds from upper New England all the way to the Midwest. Visit some of the countryside where he got started along the Johnny Appleseed Trail (http://www.appleseed.org/).
West Virginia and the Southeast Coast
The Delicious Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia (http://www.berkeleysprings.com/apple/) on October 7-8 is an excellent reason to visit this corner of West Virginia’s scenic Eastern Panhandle. Enjoy some local music, buy some crafts, pig out on the food and then explore the historic town. George Washington slept there too! Learn about Washington’s connection and more from the town Web site – (http://www.berkeleysprings.com/) which also has links to a do-it-yourself town walking tour and the Washington Heritage Trail. And you can still sample water from the spring that drew Washington, Lord Fairfax and others.
Wisconsin and the Midwest
Head up north to the beautiful and scenic Bayfield, Wisconsin to the cool shore of Lake Superior. They hold an annual Apple Festival (http://www.bayfield.org/visitor/applefestival.asp) which will be held on October 6-8. They love their apples with a serious passion serious. With more than 45 orchards participating in the festivities and their own 2006 Apple Festival poster, which you can order online if you can’t be there in person. Look up at the top of the page for “Adventures & Attractions” to pick up information on fishing, boating and visiting the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Pennsylvania and the East
Need some more possibilities on the farther east coast this coming fall? North of the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, there is actually a National Apple Museum, in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, devoted to all kinds of apples from all different places (other countries too!). (http://www.nationalapplemuseum.com/)They also have their very own apple celebration on the first two weekends in October for the entire family, and if you click on “Other Festivals” at their site, you’ll find a list of apple and pumpkin-related parties all over the United States and Canada as well.
