The sights, sounds, and flavors of autumn will once again fill the South Mountain Fairgrounds as the National Apple Harvest Festival returns on October 3-4, 2026 and October 10-11, 2026. Now it’s 61st year, what began as a single day event on October 10, 1965, grew steadily in popularity, expanding to a two day, two weekend event in 1975. Many of the original featured attractions remain today, including the apple cider press, car displays, and apple products.
Visitors are greeted by the rhythmic chugging sounds of hit-and-miss engines, and the high-pitched whistle of steam traction engines echoing throughout the fairgrounds. With more than 300 arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, demonstrations by artisans and craftsmen, tasty food and activities, there is plenty to see, hear, and enjoy. The vendors sell hand-crafted items.
Mostly run by hundreds of volunteers rotating shifts, the festival offers family fun for everyone. Roughly 25,000 people are in attendance each day to visit Biglerville’s annual festival.
The festival operates Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays until 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year, admission has increased slightly to help keep pace with operating costs and ensure the longtime tradition of the festival can endure for years to come.
General admission is $15 for adults. Admission for seniors age 60 and over. Military members is $13, with military identification . Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. A two-day flex pass is also available for $26. While there are processing fees to purchase tickets online, visitors save time and bypass the main ticket purchase lines.
Admission includes parking, shuttle service to and from the festival grounds, entertainment, exhibits, and hayrides. Visitors can visit appleharvest.com for the complete schedule and additional festival information.
One of the festival’s special events is the Pennsylvania Apple Queen contest. The contest will take place in the auditorium at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2026. The coronation is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The queen must be a junior in high school, reside in Adams County, and be willing to learn about the apple industry and share that knowledge with the community. As queen, she will participate in various promotional events throughout the year.
The festival also gives back to the local community. Of the proceeds, 50% will benefit Oakside Community Park, while 40% will go to the Upper Adams Jaycees, a festival sponsor. The Jaycees use its funds to support community initiatives such as the annual Easter egg hunt, movie nights, and other programs. The remaining 10% is placed in a reserve fund to help with the startup costs of next year’s festival.
Families will find plenty of activities throughout the grounds, including a Kids’ Kraft Korner, Native American dancers, pony rides, puppet shows, display of classic and antique cars, and so much more. Hayrides and scenic orchard bus tours are included with admission. This gives visitors another way to take in the fall sights and experience picturesque Adams County in fall. They have the opportunity to learn about agriculture unique to this area.
In addition to apple themed food and drinks such as apple butter, apple cider, apple pies and dumplings, hard ciders, caramel and candied apples, and apple pizza, a fan favorite is the open-pit beef. Food lovers will find plenty of other fresh and flavorful choices to sample while exploring the festival. There are funnel cakes, blooming onions, vintage sodas, milkshakes, kettle corn, soups, breakfast foods, pastries, sandwiches, Thai food, and so much more.
Don’t let the chance of rain keep you away this weekend as the festival is a rain or shine event. If you can’t make it this weekend, be sure to visit the National Apple Harvest next weekend to savor all the sights, sounds, and flavors that fall has to offer.
