Hendersonville is the official home of the North Carolina Apple Festival, a four-day celebration to recognize the importance of the apple industry to Henderson County and North Carolina. The Apple Festival is always held during the Labor Day weekend (Friday through Monday). Festival-goers can choose from a variety of events which feature a street fair on Historic Main Street and surrounding event venues with continuous free entertainment, arts & crafts, local apple growers selling apple products, children’s & youth activities, special shows, exhibits, open houses, fun, festival food, and, to top it all off, the King Apple Parade. Capture the spirit of a hometown celebration that is family friendly, with many individual events and entertainers throughout the festival.
The Apple Festival’s Street Fair covers 8 blocks of Main Street with more than 200 vendors. Main Street is closed to traffic from 6th Avenue to Caswell Street Apple growers will be selling apples and delicious goodies throughout the festival. The Kiddie Carnival features rides and Inflatables at two locations – Wells Fargo Bank and the Visitor Center. The highlight of Labor Day is King Apple Parade filled with floats, bands, clowns, antique cars, fire engines and more traveling down Main Street from 5 Points to Caswell Street.
Some of the other festivities happening during the Apple Festival include apple breakfasts, Gem & Mineral Spectacular, children’s activities, and the Western North Carolina Air Museum Open House.
Please leave your pets comfortably at home. A Hendersonville City ordinance allows event organizers to exclude animals from the event space for the health, safety and welfare of the community, dogs, patrons, vendors and their products.
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina, producing 85 percent of all the apples grown in the state. The County grows more than 40 varieties of apples including; Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, Stayman, Fuji and Galas. Fresh apples, cider, pumpkins, produce and many other items may be purchased at one of the many roadside apple markets located throughout Henderson County. Some orchards have fun fall activities, baked goods, cider, and also allow you to pick your own apples. Buy fresh apples direct from Henderson County growers, download a Crest of the Blue Ridge Orchard Trail guide at visithendersonvillenc.org.
For tickets, applications and further information write the NC Apple Festival Office, P.O. Box 886, Hendersonville, NC 28793 or call 828-697-4557. For times and locations of the events, check the North Carolina Apple Festival brochure or visit the web site at ncapplefestival.org.
For lodging or area information call the Hendersonville Visitor Center at 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit the web site at visithendersonvillenc.org.
