Apple festivals are a great celebration of the changing of the seasons. Take the whole family for a country walk to an apple orchard, soak up the stunning scenery, and find fresh produce like homemade apple butter, fried apple pies, and old-fashioned cider. Below is a guide to the annual festivals in the capital region.
Do you want to pick your own apples? See also, a guide to Apple Picking Near Washington DC.
Great Country Farms Apple Gala & Cider Festival Los
weekends 2 to the September 24, 2017, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm 18780 Foggy Bottom Road Bluemont, VA. The farm celebrates all things apple with cider tastings and compelling demonstrations, wagon rides, crafts for kids, the 2014 Boulder Crest Retreat Wounded Warrior Corn Maze, giant slide, rope swings and more.
Winchester Apple-Harvest Arts & Crafts Festival
September 16-17, 2017. Jim Barnett Park, Winchester, VA. The annual event showcases the works of nearly 100 artisans with items for sale ranging from hand-spun alpaca wool to handmade jewelry. There is an Apple Theme Booth, where dozens of varieties of locally grown apples are showcased, as well as samples to try and an Apple Pie eating contest. The event is sponsored by Winchester Rotary to raise money for local charities.
Shenandoah Apple Butter Celebration
September 23, 2017, 10 am-5pm Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park (Mile 47.1 and 42.5 on Skyline Drive). Celebrate all things Apple Butter with demos, pony rides, kids’ crafts, and live entertainment. Featured food includes Apple Smoked Pork BBQ, Grilled Chicken with Apple Sauce, Granny Apple Salad Salad, Apple Cobbler, and Hot and Cold Apple Cider. Virginia cider and wine tastings will also be available.
National Harvest Festival of
Apples October 7-8 & 14-15, 2017, 8 am-6pm South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Rd. (Route PA 234), Biglerville, PA. One of the largest fall festivals in the region, the National Apple Harvest Festival features more than 300 handicraft vendors, a craft demonstration area, walking characters, displays of vintage farm equipment, and apples of all shapes and sizes. sizes. The event has something for everyone with vintage cars, steam engine exhibits, demonstrations, contests, a petting zoo, and live entertainment.
The festival is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Apple Country, near historic Gettysburg, and is a two-hour drive from Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Harrisburg PA. For more information on the area, see the Gettysburg, PA Visitor’s Guide.
Pumpkin season is here too and the capital region has a wonderful selection of fall festivals. See a guide to pumpkin patches in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
