Visit an Apple Festival

The third weekend in September is celebrated by Applejack Festival in Nebraska City, Nebraska. It is also the home of the Arbor Day Foundation, where Arbor Day was started in by J. Sterling Morton in 1972. Located in eastern Nebraska there are three large apple orchards which attract people from hundreds of miles away to the four day festival.

The Apple Jack Festival actually starts on Wednesday and continues through Sunday. Normally I go on Saturday to watch my kids high school band march in the parade. But, my youngest graduated last year and I didn't have anyone to watch. So my husband and I went on Sunday, to avoid the crowds.

We attended the car show, and I took lots of pictures of antique and classic cars, and I finally went to Arbor Day Farms. It was beautiful and although we got there late I had my apple cider, caramel apple, a glass of apple wine and walked through the orchards enjoying the harvest and sweet smell of apples.

My favorite way to eat apples is just slice and dip in caramel. Crunchy and sweet and a fall treat. Apples are nutritious, full of fiber and naturally sweet. I took home 5 lbs Honey Crisp apples that day and finished them that week.

Kids often don't like eating whole apples, their small mouths are often too small to bite into large apples. Myself, I loved eating whole apples as a kid. My son told me in Marine Boot camp they passed out apples during the crucible and it was like a gift from heaven. The recruits ate the whole apple, core and all.

A Walk through the Apple Barn

As we walked into the first building at the apple farm I could smell the sweet smell of apples, it didn't take long before I saw the pallets of brown apple pulp and mash near the back door. I knew it was apple cider in the making. It was the first thing I told my husband I had to have. Since it was warm outside we choose the cold apple cider, instead of hot variety.

At the same time I bought a caramel apple, with nuts. We sat on the porch, people watched and enjoyed the fall day. After our treat we walked into the apple barns where the aroma from thousands of apples mingled together to make a sweet bouquet. You could watch them make apple cider, sort apples, buy apple pies, apple crafts, apple jam and everything you can think of that includes apples. Did I mention you could also buy apples?

I love photography and I also love the Lord, so when you put the two together wondrous things can occur. During my stroll down the orchard with my camera I purposely composed photographs which would complement a greeting card design with a Bible verse.

Here is the result. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Proverbs 25:11 NIV

My goal is to create a new scripture card every week in my CafePress store.

In addition to the traditional apple activities at the festival for kids (apple dunking, crafts, etc) there was also something for the adults. A wine tasting social. Nebraska, believe it or not, has quite a few vineyards and specialty wines.

Being we were at an apple festival I had to try the Apple Pie wine, and was very surprised at it's bouquet. It's a wine term, and I don't really know what it means, but it sounds sophisticated and fancy. I took home a bottle and we were able to take home the glasses as well.

Now that I've had a taste of Apple Wine I kinda like it, maybe not enough to make it from scratch, but I know some people who would give it a try and have apple trees in their back yard. I'll can come over and sample their wine. Last year they made elderberry and mulberry wine and vodka. They might give apple wine a try.

Several friends have apple trees and I normally harvest a couple of bushels of apples during the fall. Aside from caramel apples, apple pie, I also love apple cider. Of course caramel apple cider is the best, with whipped cream on top.

What is your favorite season of the year? Do you love Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall? Tell me why, convince me that Summer isn't my favorite? If you love the cool Autumn days tell everyone why.

What Is Your Favorite Season

My kids would have enjoyed the tree house at Arbor Day lodge, since we were late, we weren't able to explore the woods. Maybe when I have grand kids, did I really say that, I'll take them.

If you enjoyed this article, tell me, let me know you were here, share with me your visit to a local apple festival or apple orchard, or a traditional fall trip you make every year.