Cleveland prepares for annual Apple Festival
All photos courtesy of the The Cleveland Apple Festival™
The annual Cleveland Apple Festival is set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 to Sunday, Oct. 20 in the historic downtown Cleveland.
Featuring major sponsors, Cleveland’s Apple Valley Orchard and the Trailhead Bicycle Company, this event offers an art and craft show, live music, food booths, pony rides, entertainment, children’s activities and various other local vendors.
“The Cleveland Apple Festival was developed out of a desire to provide a safe, fun family festival,'' said Jill Brown, director of the festival. “We began in 2001 and have been around for 18 years in Cleveland.”
The festival donates all proceeds to charities and nonprofit organizations in the Cleveland/Bradley County area. This year’s proceeds are going to over a dozen local charities.
Brown said festival organizers are excited to see the community come together once again to experience safe, fun, family time together and enjoy the best of Cleveland.
“Families are busy and with so many responsibilities and busy with life,” Brown said. “It is important to have time to enjoy life and be together with friends and neighbors.”
The Apple Festival is open to all ages from the community, making a great opportunity for Lee students who are staying local during Fall Break.
Cleveland resident Natachia Sounders said her family looks forward to the event each year.
“It is family fun for all of us,” Sounders said. “We love the food and crafts, and my girls love to pick out apples to take home.”
According to the Apple Festival website, there is an Apple Blossom pageant, a dessert contest and a talent show participants can sign up online before the festival, in addition to the vendors.
Senior international business major Jacob McCrory said the Apple Festival is a great way to kick-start fall.
“The thing I look forward to most is the community coming together as friends to mutually enjoy the beginning of fall, apples and supporting our locals,” McCrory said.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Cleveland Apple Festival starting at 10 a.m. outside the Bradley County Courthouse.
“We want to welcome the community to come and join us once again for a community gathering to enjoy some great entertainment, food, music, arts, crafts and time together in historic Downtown Cleveland,” said Brown.
For more information about the event, click here.
