An Accumulation of Apple-related Autumn Activities
It’s Fall, and that means it’s time for APPLES
by OTL Seat Fillers & City Guides
Attending an apple festival can be a wonderful event for people of all ages. Depending on the festival, you can indulge in a range of treats like fresh apples, apple cider, pies, and other tasty delights to enjoy there or take home. Many festivals also offer fun activities like apple picking, hayrides, and live entertainment, making them ideal for families. Kids can have fun with games and crafts, while everyone soaks up the festive fall atmosphere and shops for local produce and handcrafted items.
Apple Festivals across the US
September 11-14, 2024 – Murphysboro, Illinois – Murphysboro Apple Festival – Website
Generally held the 2nd weekend in September, this four-day event packs downtown Murphysboro with family-friendly activities, including free entertainment, carnival rides, pageants, concessions, a car show, and a menu of apple-themed treats.
September 19-30, 2024 – Nebraska City, Nebraska – AppleJack Festival – Website
In most areas, you’d have to visit four or five small towns to achieve the level of festival action available in Nebraska City. How do they do it? Volume. Why do they do it? Because they like you. If you can only attend one festival, which should it be? That’s like asking Johnny Appleseed to choose his favorite tree. It’s a question he can’t possibly answer because he died in 1845.
September 21-22, 2024 – Fort Wayne, Indiana – Johnny Appleseed Festival – Website
Step back in time to Johnny’s day around 1842 and smell see and enjoy all the sights and sounds that could have been around during Johnny’s lifetime. There is no entrance fee to get into this festival.
September 28, 2024 – New Cumberland, Pennsylvania – New Cumberland Apple Festival – Website
Sponsored by the New Cumberland Olde Towne Association, Apple Festival is held annually on the last Saturday in September in New Cumberland Borough Park. Visitors enjoy craft vendors, entertainment, food, and many activities for young and old. With more than 70 food vendors and 200 craft vendors, it’s sure to be a fun-filled day for all who attend! A trolley will transport visitors to the Festival from several points along Bridge Street.
Other things you might be interested in…
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October 4-5, 2024 – Erwin, Tennessee – Unicoi County Apple Festival – Website
The Unicoi County Apple Festival, a beloved event attracting more than 120,000 visitors annually, has been named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events and has won four Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association Pinnacle Awards, along with the Johnson City Press Readers’ Choice Best Local Event from 2018 to 2022. With over 400 vendors offering unique crafts, delicious food, and family-friendly activities, this year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever! Don’t miss the exciting new additions—a Tennis Tournament and an Apple Decorating Contest—guaranteed to make this year’s celebration unforgettable!
October 4-6; 11-13, 2024 – Southington, Connecticut – Southington Apple Harvest Festival – Website
The Southington Apple Harvest Festival is a six-day event that takes place over the course of two weekends each Fall. This annual event is one of the largest and longest running festivals in the Northeast and typically draws a crowd of over 100,000 people. The 2024 Festival is scheduled for the weekends (Friday-Sunday) of October 4-6 and October 11-13.
The Festival is one of Connecticut’s top tourist events held during the height of New England’s beautiful fall foliage. Visitors will enjoy a jam-packed schedule of events, entertainment, activities, specialty foods, crafts and fun for all ages.
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October 5-6 & 12-13, 2024 – Biglerville, Pennsylvania – National Apple Harvest Festival – Website
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Apple country, The National Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the fall season with beautiful handmade crafts, delicious food, and jam-packed entertainment.
The Festival has something for everyone with special attractions ranging from steam engine displays, live music, antique cars, orchard tours, pony rides, tastings, craftsman demonstrations … and so much more!
October 12-13 & 19-20, 2024 – Ellijay, Georgia – Georgia Apple Festival – Website
For 53 fun-filled years, the Georgia Apple Festival has brought two exciting weekends in October to Gilmer County. Ellijay and East Ellijay hosts hundreds of vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, on-site demonstrations, live music, and delicious fair food.
The festival is named after the ripening apples that you can find all over the area at local orchards. Despite its growth from a small arts & crafts show to the four-day event that it has become today, the Georgia Apple Festival continues to be a big show with a small-town feel.
October 12-13 – LaFayette, NY – LaFayette Apple Festival – Website
The LaFayette area has long been recognized as one of the primary apple producing regions of Upstate New York. Its rural atmosphere, rolling hills, and beautiful fall foliage make LaFayette a wonderful setting for one of the northeast’s premier arts and crafts show. We celebrate this year by bringing you more crafters than ever before, over 400, and by making numerous improvements to the grounds themselves. The Apple Festival is located within walking distance of the site where the Cardiff Giant was discovered in 1869!
October 19-20, 2024 – Cleveland, Tennessee – Cleveland Apple Festival – Website
The Cleveland Apple Festival™ is a family event that is held each fall in historic downtown Cleveland, Tennessee. This annual festival offers an art and craft show, live music, food booths, petting zoo, entertainment, children’s activities and much more!
All children’s activities in the Apple Valley Orchard Kid’s Zone are free, with paid admission, to children 12 and under including petting zoo!
Appe Butter recipe, because we know you want it.
– Start by peeling, coring, and slicing 6-8 apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties works well). Then, place the apple slices into a slow cooker.
– Add 1 cup of brown sugar (you can adjust to taste), 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of cloves, and a pinch of salt to the apples. Stir the mixture to coat the apples evenly with the spices.
– Set the slow cooker to low and let the apples cook for about 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally. This will help the apples break down into a thick, dark mixture.
– After the cooking time, if the apple butter is still chunky, use an immersion blender or transfer it to a blender to purée until smooth.
– Continue cooking the apple butter on low for an additional 1-2 hours until it reaches your desired consistency.
– Once the apple butter is ready, let it cool slightly before transferring it to sterilized jars. Then, seal the jars and store them in the refrigerator, where the apple butter will keep for several weeks.
This homemade apple butter makes a perfect spread for toast, biscuits, or as a gift!
