For decades, folks from Glastonbury and beyond have flocked to one the season’s most anticipated events: The Apple Harvest Festival. And this year, the 38th annual Apple Harvest Festival happening this coming Saturday October 13th and Sunday October 14th, will be no exception.
In fact, there are some brand new attractions being rolled out for this year’s festivities that may make the event even more popular. Little ones will love the addition of a petting zoo with llamas, goats, sheep, horses, and even a camel named Polly, plus FREE pony rides, while the grown-ups will want to check out the all-new Beer Garden, featuring Connecticut craft beer, wine, and hard cider (don’t forget your ID; entry into the Beer Garden is free but they will be carding!). And of course there will still be the old favorites like carnival rides & games, the massive craft show, rows of delicious fair food, live music, and plenty of apples! Of particular interest to those of us with wee ones might be the Kidz Zone with LEGO tables and small craft projects. Click here for a full list of events and activities. There is truly something for everyone in the family.
The Festival takes place on the grounds behind the Riverfront Community Center at 300 Welles Street in Glastonbury, CT. Parking at the Community Center is limited to reserved and handicap spaces, but there is FREE and very convenient parking and shuttle service from a nearby lot, plus some options for street parking if you’re willing to walk. You can check out my previous post on the Riverfront Music Festival, which takes place at this same location and utilizes the same parking and shuttle system, for all the details on the parking situation (even maps!).
And since it wouldn’t be OAAM without plenty of photos, here are some pics from last year’s event. We had a great time on our first ever visit to the Apple Harvest Festival. It’s quintessential Fall fun for the whole family!
(You can see even more of our photos from last year’s Apple Harvest Festival here on our Facebook Page.)
Want to see more? You can also check out this post from a fellow CT blogger at Cait Plus Ate for a comprehensive culinary tour plus more great photos of last year’s festival.
See you there!
THE MOMSENSE:
Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival
Riverfront Community Center grounds
300 Welles Street, Glastonbury, Connecticut
FREE parking/shuttle at 180/200 Glastonbury Boulevard
Get directions here (to parking lot/shuttle):
Hours & Admission:
Saturday, October 13th & Sunday, October 14th 2012; 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
$5/person; $20/family; Children under 3 feet tall are admitted FREE!
Tickets are sold at the festival entrance. No advance ticket sales.
Tips & Things to Bring
- No parking available on the festival grounds (except for handicap parking). FREE parking and shuttle bus service available from a nearby lot at 180 & 200 Glastonbury Boulevard. The shuttle bus is usually a school bus. Click here to see my previous post on the Riverfront Music Festival, which has all the info on the parking situation.
- The shuttle bus runs about every 5 minutes. The ride from the parking lot to the festival grounds is less than 5 minutes.
- If there has been any rain at all, bring your rubber boots! The grounds can get pretty muddy from all that foot traffic.
- The grounds are stroller-friendly, but it might be hard to use a lightweight umbrella stroller on the grassy terrain, especially if it’s at all muddy. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to bring a big stroller onto the shuttle (school) bus–although, we did it last year and managed not to injure ourselves or anyone else in transit, so it is possible and lots of people do it 🙂
- For a small baby, consider bringing a wearable baby carrier instead of a stroller. You might find it more convenient to get around.
- Don’t forget that mid-October can be chilly, especially in the late afternoon, and there is no real protection on the festival grounds from a gusty wind. Dress the kiddos (and yourselves) accordingly. Fortunately, if you find yourself in need of a cap for your little one, there are plenty of adorable, handmade options available for purchase 🙂
- Speaking of purchases, get your holiday shopping done early! There are more than 100 artists, jewelers, and craftspeople displaying everything from handcrafted jewelry to children’s toys and clothes to soaps, wreaths, glassware, and original works of art.
- There are lots of food options. Some that we saw last year were BBQ sandwiches, chicken pitas, gyros, chicken fingers, corn dogs, kettle corn, french fries, and apple crisp (of course).
- Bring cash–I don’t recall if and when you can use a credit card, so just to be safe, have some cash on you.
- Last year, we had to buy tickets for the rides in addition to paying the admission fee, so that is likely to be the case again.
- Restroom: Porta-potties. Although, last year we also found a well-marked baby changing/nursing area, so look for that again this year.
- Click here for a full list of activities and events, including an apple pie baking contest, road races, and a schedule of live music and demonstrations.
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