Glastonbury’s long-standing Apple Harvest & Music Festival is welcoming thousands of people from all over Connecticut and the region to experience fall festivities.
GLASTONBURY, Conn. — People were thrilled to be back at the Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival this weekend for the 50th annual festival.
Celebrating half-a-century in the community, the event brings together nearly 200 local food and craft vendors, four live music stages, amusement rides and thousands of attendees at the Riverfront Community Center on Welles Street.
“It’s an awesome offering for Connecticut locals,” Karissa Vanscoy, of Windsor, said. “Especially because it’s still in town — you don’t have to compete with everyone at some of the bigger venues, but it’s also well established.”
At the festival merchandise booth, a history section took visitors through decades of memories. Jenn Conran, a local volunteer and president of SPARC at the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce, shared some of the event’s backstory.
“Grandma’s used to be in the basement making pies. It actually used to be down the street at the Hubbard Green,” Conran said.
She held a photo album filled with vintage pictures from a festival decades ago.
The festival has since grown in both size and popularity, now featuring a range of small business booths that benefit from the steady foot traffic.
“The foot traffic is crazy,” Dale Henrick, owner of Graceful Creations said. “When they come through, there’s so many different vendors that it gives them the opportunity to spend time in each booth.”
“Be it soaps or certain types of candies that are homemade, it’s great for them to come down here and see all the people come out who support small businesses,” added Mark Shadle, Gmonkey vegan food truck chef.
Among the most popular foods at the apple-themed celebration were the freshly made cider donuts. One standout was Dude’s Donuts, recommended by several festival-goers.
In addition to food and crafts, the festival boasted 50 different bands, creating a lively atmosphere for people of all ages. Amusement rides and games added to the fun, offering something for everyone.
“It is a big fair but it’s not as overwhelming as the Big E,” said one festival-goer.
“We enjoy the rides and the offerings they have here without as much of the extra business,” Vanscoy said.
Another attendee described it as a nostalgic experience.
“The excitement, seeing people — now that I’m older it’s a great chance to see friends from high school, it’s almost like a reunion,” Conran said.
For those who missed Saturday’s festivities, the event continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A 5K road race presented by Sam Adams will kick off Sunday at 9:30 a.m. as well.
Joe Monte is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at JMonte@FOX61.com.
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