Are you looking for an exciting and unique way to celebrate the bounty of the Apple season? Look no further than the historic Bayfield Apple Festival in Wisconsin! The vibrant festival is held annually in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Since 1972, it has become a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of visitors eager to experience the unique culture and customs of the area.
The festival centers around the many varieties of apples that can be found in the area. As you explore the bustling streets, you can sample delicious apple treats such as apple pies, caramel apples, and apple cider. There are also plenty of arts and crafts vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities like wagon rides and contests. There is truly something for everyone at the Bayfield Apple Festival!
Festival Summary
The Bayfield Apple Festival 2023 will be taking place on October 6, 7 and 8. This annual event is held in Bayfield Wisconsin and celebrates the fall harvest with a variety of fun activities and tours for the whole family. This festival offers a wide variety of food and craft vendors, a carnival, live music and entertainment. There are also many apple orchards to visit and pick your own apples from.
The Bayfield Apple Festival offers delicious treats sure to please every palate! Whether you’re looking for something sweet, savory, or something in between, there’s something for everyone. From apple pies and tarts to apple-infused dishes like apple dumplings and pulled pork sandwiches, there are plenty of treats to enjoy. The local farmers market also provides an abundance of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
No tickets are needed to attend the Bayfield Apple Festival. Come out and join the fun at the Bayfield Apple Festival! Enjoy the fresh autumn air, live music, craft and food vendors, carnival rides and pick your own apples from the local orchards.
History of this event
The Bayfield Apple Festival is organized by the Bayfield Chamber & Visitors Bureau and is held annually during the first weekend of October. Attracting over 60,000 visitors from all around the Midwest, this festival is one of Wisconsin’s premier events and has been touted by USA TODAY as one of the 10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the nation and by Wisconsin Trails Magazine as Wisconsin’s Best Festival.
The festival features activities such as apple orchard events and tours, live music, food and craft vendors, and the Spectrum Carnival. There is also a coronation of the Apple Festival Queen chosen from Bayfield’s Orchard families, an apple peeling contest and the Grand Parade on Sunday afternoon.
Discovering the Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
No ticket or reservation is needed to attend the Bayfield Apple Festival. However, parking in certain areas may require a fee. The festival takes place October 6th (Friday), 7th (Saturday), and 8th (Sunday) of 2023 in Bayfield Wisconsin.
Visitors can also enjoy live music, food, and craft vendors throughout the event. Farmer’s market vendors open at 10am and close at 5pm. The farmer market will feature featuring all local producers along South First Street between Rittenhouse and Manypenny Avenue. A Grand Parade will take place at 2pm on Sunday afternoon.
The festival is a great opportunity to experience the spectacular fall colors and take home some Wisconsin-grown apples from one of the seven apple orchards. A range of transportation options are available to make the trip to Bayfield easy and convenient. There are parking lots managed by the Bayfield School District Students, Festival Parking, and shuttle services from Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, Hauser’s Superior View Farm, and Bay Area Rural Transit.
Best Time to Visit, Parking & Shuttle Service
For those looking to avoid the crowds, opt for a weekday visit. Wednesday brings the Apple Pie and Dessert Contest to the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion, with judging and community tasting starting at 4PM. Weekdays also host the Bayfield Farmer’s Market, with local producers between the Rittenhouse and Manypenny Avenue.
Shuttle services are available from Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, Hauser’s Superior View Farm, and Bay Area Rural Transit.
Additionally, parking lots managed by the Bayfield School District Students are available for $10/vehicle and a Handicap Parking Lot is located on the corner of South 2nd Street and Manypenny Avenue. Lastly, the Bodin Fisheries Parking lot is available for visitors to “follow the fish” and park one block away from vendors and carnival rides.
Best Food in the [Activity]
Head to the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion for the Firemen’s Fish Fry and Beer Garden! Enjoy mouth-watering, local-caught fish fried in a beer batter, paired with a refreshing beer or a cold pop. Live music will accompany your meal and there are plenty of places to sit and relax and enjoy the view of the harbor.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, don’t miss the Apple Pie and Dessert Contest. The pies and desserts are all handmade by the locals and can be sampled by the public after the judging. You’ll be spoilt for choice with all the delicious offerings!
During the festival, the streets of Downtown Bayfield will be filled with craft and food vendors. Enjoy freshly made apple cider donuts, sweet and savory crepes, and delicious BBQ. Pick up some unique crafts and souvenirs from the local artisans and take home a piece of Bayfield.
Where to bring Apple back home
Festivalgoers who come to the Bayfield Apple Festival can take home some of the delicious Wisconsin-grown apples. There are seven apple orchards in Bayfield County, each offering a variety of apples to choose from.
Visitors can pick apples themselves or purchase a bag at one of the orchards. Hauser’s Superior View Farm is one of the most popular orchards, offering a wide selection of apples, as well as annuals and perennials. Hauser’s also produces fresh apple cider, a must-have for any apple festival.
All of the apples and other products can be brought back home with ease, as there are several transportation options available to festivalgoers.
Performance & Activities
The festival will kick off with the Apple Pie and Dessert Contest taking place at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion on Friday. Saturday will feature an Apple Peeling Contest, Firemen’s Fish Fry, Beer Garden and Live Music, and the coronation of the Apple Festival Queen at Memorial Park Gazebo. Sunday will conclude the festival with the Grand Parade at 2pm and the Firemen’s Raffle Drawing. This year the Grand Parade will bring back The Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay and the Mass Band!
There will be different performance at the Essentia Health Grandstand Stage every day, in 2023, the festival is featuring live music from Big Top Chautauqua’s Blue Canvas Orchestra.
Don’t miss out on this amazing event! Make sure to mark your calendar for October 6th to 8th, 2023 and join in Bayfield Wisconsin to celebrate the fall harvest.
Three Things you should know before you go!
The Bayfield Apple Festival is back for 2023! Taking place October 6 (Friday), 7 (Saturday), and 8 (Sunday), Bayfield is the perfect place to experience the fall harvest. With seven apple orchards, live music, food and craft vendors, and the Spectrum Carnival, the festival is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the season. The parade will start at 2pm on the last day (October 7th). No ticket is needed for joining the festival.
The Bayfield Apple Festival is located in the picturesque and historic downtown Bayfield, Wisconsin, one block from Lake Superior. Attendees can take the Legendary Waters Shuttle, Hauser’s Shuttle, or BART Bus from convenient locations across the area. Please check out the parking and shuttle details here. Usually they will have the map uploaded closer to the time of the festival, you can check here.
For more information, please check out the official event website at https://www.bayfield.org/apple-festival.