This year will be no exception as the North Carolina Apple Festival takes over downtown Hendersonville for four days, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. Festival-goers can choose from a variety of events centered around a nine-block street fair on Main Street.
The festival features continuous entertainment, arts and crafts, youth activities, festival food and, of course, apples. Lots and lots of freshly-picked apples. The most widely grown apples in Henderson County are red delicious, golden delicious, honey crisp, Rome beauty, Granny Smith, Stayman, Fuji and gala.
A family fun zone includes carnival rides and inflatables at the south end of Main Street, while the highlight on Labor Day Monday is the annual King Apple Parade. The parade begins at 2:30 p.m., rain or shine, and is filled with floats, bands, clowns, antique cars, fire engines and more.
Associated events include apple breakfasts, a gem & mineral showcase, the Western North Carolina Air Museum open house and u-pick activities at area orchards. Most orchards have added activities such as corn mazes, hayrides and apple cannons to augment the u-pick experience.
Henderson County leads all NC counties in the production of apples and is the seventh-largest apple producing county in America.