170 Stepp Orchard Drive, Hendersonville
On the web: https://steppapples.com/ and facebook.com/SteppsHillcrestOrchard
Festival hours: Fri-Sat, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Festival treats: U-pick apples, apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, pre-picked apples, jams, jellies, butters, honey
Festival activities: U-pick apples, u-pick sunflowers, tractor-pulled wagon rides, five-acre corn maze, apple cannons
McConnell Farms
177 Old Dana Road, Hendersonville
Festival hours: Fri-Mon, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On the web: www.mcconnellfarms.net/ and facebook.com/McconnellFarmsInc
Festival treats: Farm-pressed ciders (apple, apple ginger, strawberry apple, peach), ice cream, caramel apples, apple cider donut, apple hand pies (new recipe), fruit butters, jams, jellies, apple salsa
Sky Top Orchard
1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road, Flat Rock
On the web: www.skytoporchard.com/ and facebook.com/skytoporchard
Festival hours: Friday-Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Festival treats offered: U-pick apples, caramel and chocolate-covered apples, apple pies, cider slushies, apple cider donuts
Festival activities: U-pick apples, craft booth, animal barn, beekeeper informational booth, live beehive, hayrides, apple cannon
Mountain Fresh Orchards
2887 Chimney Rock Road, HendersonvilleOn the web: https://mtnfreshorchards.com/ and facebook.com/MountainFreshOrchards
Festival hours: Fri-Mon, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Festival treats: Largest farm bakery in Henderson County features more than 20 treats, including apple cider donuts, apple bread, apple pies, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple turnovers, pumpkin bread, apple caramel cake and blueberry cream cheese cake
Festival activities: Apple Express train rides, reality scavenger hunt via FARM GAMES app
Creasman Farms
280 Bent Arrow Lane, Hendersonville
Festival hours: Fri-Sun, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On the web: www.creasmanfarmsnc.com/ and facebook.com/CreasmanFarms
Festival treats: Apples, apple cider slushies, fresh-baked apple pie, apple muffins, apple cake, apple strudel
Festival activities: For the first time ever, Creasman Farms will open its farm to the public on Apple Festival weekend. Activities will include food trucks and local craft vendors on-site. U-pick apple season will begin Sept. 13.
17 Holt Pond Drive, Flat Rock
Festival hours: Fri-Mon, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On the web: www.holtorchards.com/ and facebook.com/HoltOrchards
Festival treats: Apples, apple cider donuts, baked goods, unique gifts
Lively Orchards
1115 Upward Road, Flat Rock
On the web: facebook.com/Lively-Orchards-597251397131034
Festival treats: Apples, apple cider, Asian pears
Moss Farms
1465 Bearwallow Road, Hendersonville
Festival hours:
Festival treats: Mountain-grown apples,homemade fried apple pies, apple wedges with caramel, gourmet caramel apples, apple fries with dip, candy apples, funnel cakes with apple topping, cider slushies, apple sippers with apple juice
Henderson Farms
705 Tracy Grove Road, Flat Rock
Festival hours: Fri and Mon, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday
On the web: facebook.com/pages/Henderson%20Farms/124077744306889/
Festival treats: Apples, some vegetables
Heirloom Apples at Freeman Orchards
3016 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville
On the web: facebook.com/HeirloomApplesAtFreemanOrchards
Festival treats: Heirloom apples, peaches, fried apple pies
Festival activities: Apple tastings, Rusty Clay Pottery vendor, Baabal’s Ice Cream and Family Grill food truck, Bee City Hendersonville vendor, folk art toys
Owenby Apple House & Orchards
3807 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville
Festival hours: Fri-Mon, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Festival treats: Apples, Asian pears, apple ciders, cider slushies, family recipe boiled peanuts, mini apple pies, apple jellies, sunflowers for sale, honey, molasses, apple butter, apple jelly, fresh corn and other vegetables
Jimmy Nix & Sons Apple House
3642 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville
Festival hours: Fri-Mon, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On the web: https://jimmynixandsons.wixsite.com/apples and facebook.com/nixapples
Festival treats: Multiple varieties of apples, fresh apple cider, apple cider donuts, local honey, jams, jellies, molasses, fresh cabbage, Asian pears, peaches
What else can you do during the festival?
Friday
– 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Apple Window Display Contest: This year’s theme for participating businesses is, “Covid, Covid, Go Away! Eat N.C. Apples Every Day!”
– Geode cracking in front of the Mineral and Lapidary Museum: For more information, contact the Mineral and Lapidary Museum at 828-697-1977.
– Main Street Merchant Sidewalk sales: For more information, contact the City of Hendersonville Main Street Program at 828-233-3216.
— Laurel Park Village sidewalk sale with Joseph Laughter Clothier and Diamond Rush Jewelers
Saturday
– 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Giveaway: The Kiwanis Club of Hendersonville will kick off its centennial year by giving out to-go pancake breakfasts. Club members will give away preassembled bags at the Hendersonville Farmers Market and in the 400 block of Main Street.
– 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.: LoveHendo Saturday: LoveHendo will be providing open air activity of Main Street, which will be closed to vehicles from 2nd to 6th Avenue. There will be plenty of parking available throughout Downtown Hendersonville. Many businesses will have activities planned for Saturday and there will be expanded outdoor dining seating.
– Geode cracking in front of the Mineral and Lapidary Museum
– Main Street Merchant Sidewalk sales
— Laurel Park Village sidewalk sale with Joseph Laughter Clothier and Diamond Rush Jewelers
Sunday
7 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Elks Lodge Apple Breakfast: Full breakfast featuring pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, gravy, biscuits, apples, coffee and juice. Tickets are $7 in advance or $8 at the door; children’s tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door, and children under six years old are free. To-go plates are also available.
For more information, contact the Hendersonville Elks Lodge 1616 at 828-693-3424. The Lodge is located at 546 N. Justice Street in Hendersonville.
– Main Street Merchant Sidewalk sales
Monday
– 7 a.m.: Tour d’Apple, starting at Blue Ridge Community College
– 12:30 p.m.: Bandit Flight Team Flyover: A highly trained formation pilots specializing in patriotic events, will fly over downtown Hendersonville on Labor Day. The six planes, which will make two passes, will fly in formation at 12:30 pm., over Main Street in downtown Hendersonville, to provide a sky parade for this year’s Apple Festival.
– Geode cracking in front of the Mineral and Lapidary Museum
– Main Street Merchant Sidewalk sales
For more information:
www.visithendersonvillenc.org/wp-content/uploads/Apple-Orchard-Trail-August.pdf (What’s in season)
