Nestled in Pennsylvania’s apple country, the annual National Apple Harvest Festival celebrated fall this weekend with handmade crafts, delicious food, and lively entertainment. Visitors enjoyed steam engine displays, live music, antique cars, orchard tours, pony rides, tastings, and artisan demonstrations, ensuring something for everyone.
Most of the festival’s proceeds go back to the community and local, state, and national charities. Forty-nine percent supports Oakside Community Park in Biglerville, PA, while 20% funds the Upper Adams Jaycees’ community projects, including holiday donations and movie nights. Another 20% benefits civic and charitable groups, with 11% reserved for emergencies and future events.

This year’s fest, with excellent fall weather, brought a full lineup of activities, including a worship service, performances by the Colt Wilbur Band, and the Pennsylvania Apple Queen Contest. Families enjoyed magic shows, petting zoos, and Native American dance performances, while art lovers watched live chainsaw carving.
In addition to apples and cider, food offerings included Apple jelly, caramel apples, apple dumplings, apple syrup, apple pie, apple sausage, apple funnel cakes, apple daiquiris, and even apple pizza.
Other highlighted attractions included orchard tours, live music, puppet shows, hayrides, a petting zoo, pony rides, a rock climbing wall, Native American dancers, and other demonstrations. There were also antique cars and steam engine displays.
The festival brought vibrant community spirit and rich apple harvest traditions.
Amy Thomas, Contributing Editor, is responsible for community outreach, including our social media presence. She, her husband, and her two children reside in Adams County. Amy also works in early childhood education and occupational therapy, and volunteers with local organizations.
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Very disappointed this year. Worse with them when they close for COVID. Vendors were gone I went the last day. Paid full price. Ran out of bread, ran out of cider. Sold cider, that they got from Bendersville not the cider, they made there. That’s terrible.
It is my understanding that ALL of the cider sold at Apple Harvest is processed by Kimes Cider Mill. The cider pressed at the festival is NOT for sale.
I live next to the festival and it was well run and very organized. These people can only sell what they have to sell, and judging by the attendance, I’m sure a lot of goods didn’t make the trip home with the vendors.
Maybe schedule your visit for the first weekend next year when vendors aren’t contending with Colorfest in Thurmont.