North Carolina Apple Festival kicks off Sept. 2
The 76th Annual North Carolina Apple Festival will be happening Labor Day weekend on Main Street in Hendersonville.
The free four-day festival will include over 200 vendors, freshly-picked apples from 14 local orchards, arts and crafts, festival food, a parade, live entertainment and more!
Video from Sept. 2021
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
7 a.m. – Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast
10 a.m. – Noon – Apple Recipe Contest
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Downtown Hendersonville Sidewalk Sales, WNC Air Museum Open House, Laurel Park Village Sidewalk Sales
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Mineral and Lapidary Museum, 40th Annual Henderson County Gem & Mineral Show
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Street Fair, Apple and Beekeepers Educational Booth
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Vintage Tees at Piggys & Harrys
Noon – 9 p.m. – Wells Fargo Kiddie Carnival
4 – 6 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
4:30 – 8 p.m. – Apple Festival Celebration Ceremony
5 – 5:30 p.m. – Hendersonville High School Orchestra
5:45 – 6:15 p.m. – Your Carolina’s Jack Roper – Magic & Comedy
6:15 – 8:30 p.m. – Buddy K Band
8 – 11 a.m. – Apple Festival Road Races
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Hendersonville Farmers’ Market
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Street Fair, Apple and Beekeepers Educational Booth
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Downtown Hendersonville Sidewalk Sales, WNC Air Museum Open House, Laurel Park Village Sidewalk Sales
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Mineral and Lapidary Museum, 40th Annual Henderson County Gem & Mineral Show
10 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Wells Fargo Kiddie Carnival
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. – The Super 60’s
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Vintage Tees at Piggys & Harrys
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. – Jonah Riddle & Carolina Express
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. – Mountain Thunder & Lake Lure Cloggers
3 – 4 p.m. – Blue Ridge Bones
4:30 – 5:45 p.m. – Rewind House Band
6:30 – 8:45 p.m. – Swingin’ Medallions
7 a.m. – Noon – Elks Lodge Apple Breakfast
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Street Fair, Apple and Beekeepers Educational Booth, Wells Fargo Kiddie Carnival
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Downtown Hendersonville Sidewalk Sales, WNC Air Museum Open House, Laurel Park Village Sidewalk Sales
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Mineral and Lapidary Museum, 40th Annual Henderson County Gem & Mineral Show
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Vintage Tees at Piggys & Harrys
1 – 2 p.m. – Gin Mill Pickers
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Asheville Junction Bluegrass
4 – 5 p.m. – Free Flow Band
5:45 – 8 p.m. – Intensity Party Band
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Mini-Street Fair, WNC Air Museum Open House, 40th Annual Henderson County Gem & Mineral Show
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Wells Fargo Kiddie Carnival
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Vintage Tees at Piggys & Harrys
2:15 – 2:30 p.m. – Antique Aircraft Flyby
2:30 – 5 p.m. – King Apple Parade
PARKING
Free and fee-based parking will be available throughout downtown Hendersonville. Many of the fee-based lots are operated by local non-profits.
Handicapped parking will be available Saturday and Sunday at City Hall, located at 160 6th W. Hendersonville, NC 28792, according to the festival’s website.
DID YOU KNOW?
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation, according to the festival’s website. Growing apples has been part of Henderson County’s culture and heritage since the mid 1700s. Today, Henderson County produces more apples than 41 of the 50 states!
With more than 5,500 acres dedicated to apple crops on 150 orchards, Henderson County produces 85% of all apples in the state, according to the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce. During a normal year, apple crops bring in an average income of more than $22 million.
VISIT AN ORCHARD
Several orchards in western North Carolina allow visitors to pick their own apples. Some offer wagon rides, corn mazes, pick your own sunflowers/bouquets, apple donuts, slushes, games and much more!
