Autumn Means Apples

Is there anything more emblematic of the change of seasons from summer to fall than the switch from raspberries and watermelon to apples? Suddenly, there are apple festivals everywhere!

Here are just a handful of options:

The Country Applefest in downtown Lebanon, Ohio (map) is September 25, 2010. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Look for apple fritters, apple pies, caramel apples, fudge-covered apples and all the other usual food fest staples, including BBQ sandwiches, pork chops, ham sandwiches, brats, hot dogs and burgers.

Wenatchee, Washington, in the heart of the self-proclaimed Apple Capital of the World, celebrates its Harvest Festival on September 25, 2010, at Washington Apple Country Gift Shoppe & Visitor Center, 2900 Euclid Avenue, Wenatchee (map). On the menu are Apple Country Tea & Scones, cider tasting and apple pie à la mode.

The 31st Annual Old Tyme Apple Festival is October 2 in downtown Versailles, Missouri (map).  This year’s theme is “American As Apple Pie” so visitors can expect an apple pie bake-off and auction, Apple King and Queen crowning, Baby Dumpling, Apple Dumplin & Darlin’ contests and lots of apple-oriented goodies to eat among the hundreds of food and crafts booths.

Great Maine Apple Day happens October 23, 2010, at the Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine (map). See cider pressing, attend workshops and talks about cooking with apples, see and taste heirloom apples, walk through the Maine Heritage Orchard, and purchase apples, pies and cider.

That orchard, by the way, is a work in progress. Located on approximately 1/2 acre at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners’ Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine, the orchard is comprised entirely of apple varieties that originated in that state.  A few of the varieties planted here are known outside Maine, but most are quite rare. In some cases, there are no known mature specimens left.  The first trees were planted in 2001, and new varieties are added each year as they’re discovered.

What: Apple Festivals
Where: Maine, Missouri, Ohio and Washington
When: September and October

(Photo by Susan McKee)