Apple Festival to be held Oct. 11

By Sherrie Norris

The Apple Festival, held at the Hickory Ridge Homestead at Horn in the West, celebrates and honors the present with a taste from the past.

This year’s festival will take place on Oct. 11, and the events are frequent and family-friendly. These events include historical re-enactors, live entertainment and, of course, a variety of fresh, seasoned apples, harvested right here in the High Country.

“It’s just a fun family event,” said Freda Greene, organizer of this year’s festival. Green is living proof of this fact, as her 18-year-old daughter has helped her with the festival for many years. According to Greene, the festival yearly draws up to 50 arts and crafts vendors, local and national live entertainment, and historical re-enactors to remind festival goers of the history that they are literally walking on.

The Homestead will be open all day, with re-enactors to interact with guests, and also demonstrate different Revolutionary War practices, from churning butter to warfare. The specific entertainers have not yet been announced, but some may be performing church music of the time period. The Watauga Farmers’ Market will be held in conjunction with the event, providing guests with a great selection of local produce and dairy, not to mention, a great lunch.

“The event should be very well-attended this year,” Greene said.

In the past 20 years of the festival, the number of patrons have only grown larger and larger as word spreads. There is something available for all ages, and it’s guaranteed that a visit to the festival will be a well-spent afternoon.