Vintage Virginia Apples
and the CoveGarden Ruritan Club
invite you to our 26th annual
Apple Harvest Festival!
November 7th, 2026 - 10am to 5pm
Festival Features
We are excited to invite you to join us on November 7th for our 26th Annual Apple Harvest Festival!
Rain or Shine: Join us for one of the most anticipated festivals of autumn, the Apple Harvest Festival hosted by the CoveGarden Ruritans and Albemarle CiderWorks!
Find many of your favorite farmers' market vendors, local artisans, and craftsmen demonstrating their skills. Enjoy Brunswick stew and apple butter or grab some to go.* Dig your teeth into a variety of apples and taste an array of CiderWorks' fine sparkling ciders. Dance the afternoon away with live music from local bands, and take a hayride around the mountain.
Entertainment
Hayrides over the mountainside, all day
Live Music Schedule:
10am - 12noon Tara Mills Band
12.30 - 2.30pm Small Town Rodeo
3pm - 5pm 7th Grade Girl Fight
Scroll down for our Event Schedule!
Apple Pie Contest
Ever dreamed of being a Star Baker? Here's your chance! Our annual Apple Pie Contest is a tradition that gives back to the community. Pies are judged by our local panel of culinary experts, and then sold by the slice by the Cove Garden Ruritans. All funds raised benefit the philanthropic projects of the Ruritans
Info on entering a pie into our Apple Pie Contest:
- This year, we're asking all pies be "Traditional Apple Pie" - crust on top & bottom, with apple inside
- We ask that pies be submitted by no later than 11am to the Event Tent
- Please bring the pies in disposable tins, or tins you don't mind being donated
- Please include a list of ingredients, and apples used
- Star Baker will be announced at 1pm!
First place prize is a $100 gift certificate from Vintage Virginia Apples and Albemarle CiderWorks!
To pre-register, please email Events@AlbemarleCiderWorks.com (and include a copy of your recipe, if you need it to be printed)
Event Schedule
10:45 - Cider Pressing Demo
w/ David Timmerman of Albemarle CiderWorks
11:00 - Last call to submit pies to the Apple Pie Contest!
12:00 - Cool Season Gardening: Fall into Spring
w/ Margaret Shelton of Shelton Herb Farm
1:00 - Announcement of Apple Pie Contest Winner!
Pies from the competition to be sold by the slice after the announcement ends
1:30 - Cider & Cheese Tasting with Gail Page-Hobbes of Caromont Farm & Charlotte Shelton of Albemarle CiderWorks
2:00 - Cider Pressing Demo
w/ David Timmerman of Albemarle CiderWorks
2:15 - Making the Perfect Pie Crust
w/ Rachel Willis of Cakes by Rachel
3:00 - Jam Making Demonstration
w/ Daniel Perry of Jam According to Daniel
4:00 - Cider Pressing Demo
w/ David Timmerman of Albemarle CiderWorks
