Apple Day is an annual celebration of orchards and apple crops across the UK. Apple Day is usually celebrated in the last weekend of October but this year there are apple-themed events taking place throughout the month. Contrary Life has picked out a ripe selection…
Apple Day at Vestry House Museum
When: 11th October 2014, 11am – 4pm
Where: Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, Walthamstow, London E17 9NH
£: A donation of £1 is recommended for adults and children go free
What is it?
There will be apple tasting, pressing and bobbing. Stalls will be selling plants and local produce, along with a cider bar. There will also be live music, poetry, dance, storytelling and games.
More info: www.facebook.com/VestryHouse
Old Rudgwick Cider Society Apple Day
When: 12th October 2014, 10am – 4pm
Where: King George V playing fields, Bucks Green, Rudgwick, West Sussex RH12 3JJ
£: Free
What is it?
There will be apple pressing, basketry, spinning, woolcraft, hedge laying, wood-turning, owls, pigs, cakes, an apple tombola, and a nature quiz. There will also be apple games, face painting, morris dancing and races for children. Vintage ciders will be on sale.
More info: orcs.squarespace.com
Apple Ceilidh
When: 18th October 2014, 10am – 10pm (Ceilidh takes place from 7pm)
Where: The Old Chapel, 29 Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 4EL
£: A donation of £5 is requested
What is it?
Join in the apple celebration with a ceilidh. There will be apple juice, cider and lively music from local bands Calico Jo, Shindig and Oif Ceilidh Band. During the daytime there will be family-friendly sessions where people can learn some tunes.
More info: wirralpomona.wordpress.com
Chinnor Apple Discovery Day
When: 18th October 2014, 10am – 5.30pm
Where: Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Station, Station Road, Chinnor, Oxfordshire OX39 4ER
£: Train tickets cost £11 for adults and limited tickets for children cost £1
What is it?
Visitors can try their hands at apple washing, milling and pressing, as well as apple bobbing and making the longest peel. Expert guides will be on hand to talk about the local heritage apple varieties. The ‘Apple Rambler’ will take trips along the line to see local fruit trees. Apple-themed drinks and foods will be available in the Tea Room.
More info: www.chinnorrailway.co.uk and www.facebook.com/chinnorrailway
Ely Apple Festival
When: 18th October 2014, 10am – 4pm
Where: Palace Green, Ely, Cambridgeshire
£: Free
What is it?
Ely Apple Festival is East Anglia’s biggest celebration of the great British apple. There will be apple identification and displays, an apple market, wood-turning demonstrations, children’s activities including the apple and spoon race and apple shy, storytelling, cookery demonstrations, folk music and morris dancing, and the longest apple peel contest.
More info: visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk
Killerton Cider and Apple Festival
When: 18th & 19th October 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Killerton, Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon EX5 3LE
£: Tickets cost £2 for adults and £1 for children. National Trust members and under 5s go free
What is it?
Celebrate apple picking across 500 acres of orchards on the Killerton estate with this two-day family festival. Morris dancers will bless the orchard and apples will be on sale from a vintage apple cart. Visitors can witness a 200-year-old farm press, join in with apple-wood crafts, apple pompom workshops, village fete games and a children’s bumble bee parade. There will be live bands and entertainers, a cider bar and cider cycles around the estate.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton
Apple Day at Foundry House Community Centre
When: 25th October 2014, 10am – 4pm
Where: Foundry House Community Centre, Orange Way, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire SA71 4DR
£: Admission costs £2
What is it?
Join in with the costumed apple parade or activities including apple bobbing, races and talks. Try some freshly pressed apple juice, buy a tree or browse the local produce. There will also be ‘apple computers’ and cooking demonstrations.
More info: www.facebook.com/foundry.house