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Come and Partake in the 36th Annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival in Downtown Wilkesboro on Oct. 5

By Rebecca Mullins

Oct. 3, 2013. With an increasing number of vendors and participants each year, this weekend’s apple festival is going to be filled with more food, activities, music, and crafts than ever before. Last year an estimated 160,000 people came from all over North Carolina to take part in the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, and this year there’s sure to be even more.

Miranda Holcomb's photo 2012 festival
Photo by Miranda Holcomb
Awarded 3rd Place for the 2012 Snapshot Contest

The festival is held annually on the first Saturday in October. This year it lands on Oct. 5 and runs from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in downtown North Wilkesboro. The festival is free to attend and all proceeds are donated back into the community by the host group, the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club.

The best place for visitors to park is the West Park Medical Center. A shuttle will be running between the festival and medical center all day.

A souvenir program and guide will be available at the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club Information Booth at the intersection of Main and 9th Streets. The guide will list the schedule of music and dancing as well as locations of exhibits, concessions and restrooms. Be sure to stop by and grab one so that you don’t miss out on anything the festival has to offer.

Friday night before the festival, the Ruritan Club is hosting an Apple Jam complete with live music by the local band, “Backstreet.” The band is playing at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival Park from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The club is providing a few seats, but to be sure of a spot come on out with a chair and enjoy bluegrass music at its best.

During the Apple Festival, you can expect to see southern traditions such as clogging, folk dancing, rope skipping and square dancing just to name a few. 

Ann Garwood, Publicity Chair for the Apple Festival for the past 20 years, said that there will be about 350 craft vendors and 100 food vendors in attendance for this festival. There will be stands with stained glass, quilts, wood working, black smithing as well as turkey legs, fried apple pies, funnel cakes and barbecue. If you can think of it, you’ll probably be able to find it.

This festival is also a family friendly event. Children will be able to enjoy things like face painting, a climbing wall and petting zoo.

Photo by Sarah Mizelle, last years festival
Photo by Sarah Mizelle
Awarded 1st Place for the 2012 SnapShot Contest

“When you’re walking down and looking around you see lots of people and lots of families. It’s a reunion,” remarked Garwood.

And remember, don’t miss out on the Snapshot Contest run by the Ruritan Club. If you take a picture during the festival, send it to the club and you could win the first place prize of $100.

Prizes will be awarded for two separate categories: color and black and white photos. All photographs must be submitted by Nov. 15, and only 15 photographs per person may be submitted. For a full list of rules, click here.

The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is going to be full of all kinds of American heritage, food and handmade crafts for your viewing and buying pleasure. Wear your walking shoes and come out this Saturday for the festivities. 

“Its just a wonderful place for a lot of people to come and celebrate the heritage of the area and the apple, old timey things,” said Garwood.