The Shelton Family and Vintage Virginia Apples are ready to host our 10th Apple Harvest Festival held here at Rural Ridge Farm. We dedicate this day to celebrating the agricultural heritage of Southern Albemarle County and to sharing the world of vintage and heritage apples, cider, and fruit trees with our friends and neighbors. Again, this year, we are hosting tastings in the Tasting Room of our Cidery, Albemarle Cider Works. As in previous years, we will continue to feature neighboring craftspeople and artisan food and drink producers, some of whom will be selling fresh produce, making a delicious brunswick stew, and offering a variety of tasty items for lunch.

The day will be packed with fun and educational activities for the whole family:

Scheduled tours through the Cidery (at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.)
Craft sales and demonstrations
Heritage apple varieties for tasting and purchase
Apples and Artisan Cheese tasting (facilitated by Professor Apple, Tom Burford, and Kate Collier of feast!; www.feastvirginia.com)
"Growing your Own Winter Salad Garden," by Margaret Shelton
Cider and wine tastings and sales, held in the new Tasting Room of Albemarle CiderWorks
In the Kitchen magazine judging the annual Apple Pie contest
The CoveGarden Ruritan Cub providing Brunswick Stew cooked on site
Apple Butter made from a special selection of vintage apples and simmered all morning
Hayrides taking visitors over the ridge above the farm
A bake sale, an old-fashioned hot dog and hamburger stand, and activities designed to appeal to small children, including games and an animal exhibit
"Children’s Tasting Workshops" facilitated by Sarah Teaster of feast! (recommended for children 5 to 12 years old)

herbs for sale

Schedule of Events

Time and Events

Location

11:00 a.m.: Apple Tasting (FREE!)

Children's Tasting Workshop

Cider and Wine Tasting

Growing Your own Winter Salad Garden, with Margaret Shelton

Cidery tour and talk at 11:30 a.m.

Apple Sales Tent

Main Tent

Tasting Room

Main Tent

Cidery

12:00 noon: Apple Tasting (FREE!)

Slow Food Apple Pie Contes

Cider and Wine Tasting

Apple Sales Tent

Main Tent

Tasting Room

1:00 p.m.: Rare Apple Tasting

Children's Tasting Workshop

Cider and Wine Tasting

Cidery Tour and Talk at 1:30 p.m.

Outside Tasting Room

Main Tent

Tasting Room

Cidery

2:00 p.m.: feast! Apple and Artisan Cheese Tasting

Cider and Wine Tasting

Main Tent

Tasting Room

3:00 p.m.: Apple Tasting (FREE!)

Growing Your own Winter Salad Garden, with Margaret Shelton

Cider and Wine Tasting

Cidery Tour and Talk at 3:30 p.m.

Apple Sales Tent

Main Tent

Tasting Room

Cidery

4:00 p.m.: Apple Tasting (FREE!)

Cider and Wine Tasting

Apple Sales Tent

Tasting Room

Participants may taste dozens of varieties of apples, and watch cider being pressed in hand operated mills. Apples, fresh and hard cider, apple trees and orchard items are offered for sale. Featured vendors include:

Alex Pettigrew, Cutting Boards

Clyde F. Jenkins, White Oak Baskets

Phil and Sally James, Restoration & Reproduction

Margaret Shelton, Shelton Herbs

Richard and Jean, Double H Farm (produce & pork)

Carolyn Alvis, Carolyn's Kitchen Creations (jams, salsa, pickles)

Gail Hobbs-Page, Caromont Farm (chevre)

Megan & Rob Weary, Roundabout Farm

Bill & Kimberly Jones, Babes in the Woods

Glenn Clayton & Glenn, Hungry Hill Farm (honey and products)

Dr. Pat Elliott, Everona Dairy (cheese)

Susan Swales, Wild Oats Farm (beef, lamb)

Steph Rostow, Virginia Vinegar Works

Daniel, According to Daniel

Elena Day (pies, baked goods)

Clive Papayanis (relish)

Richard & Wendy, The Farm at Red Hill

Richard Bean, Double H Farm (sausage, applesauce)

Diane LaSauce, Free Union Produce and Gourmet Edibles

Gabrielle Rausse Winery

Diane Flynt, Foggy Ridge Cidery

CoveGarden Ruritans (brunswick stew)

Vintage Virginia Apples (apples, nursery trees, apple butter, cider, gift items)