By Brooklynn Johnson
And in the blink of an eye, July has come and gone (almost). The whistles and sparks of leftover fireworks have died down. The heat has paused in some areas, swelled in others. Summer can’t be winding down… Can it?
No! We still have August. The sunlight is still stretching out to the late hours of the night. The kids will remind you that school doesn’t start for a very, very long time. Give the rest of the summer a bit of kick by spiking your days with cider at some of these festivals dedicated to the scrumptious beverage.
Atlantic City Cider Social || Atlantic City, New Jersey || On Saturday, August 8, New Jersey will stage their first cider festival right next to Garderns Basin on Caspian Point. Check out cider seminars, watch a cooking demo or two and of course, enjoy scrumptious ciders from more than 30 cider and mead brewers. While you are sipping your apple libations and munching on a slice of pie, enjoy the sounds of White Cheddar Boys, New Sweden and more as live music entertainment provides the soundtrack for the day. The event offers a unique experience in that the social is split into two sections, one from noon to 4 pm and the other from 7-11 pm, so make sure you and your friends all get tickets to the same session! Tickets are $45 in advance and can be purchased here, or $50 at the door on the day of the event. A ticket gets you a tasting glass and cider tastings, as well as participation in games and free parking at the venue. This is a 21+ only event put on by Good Time Tricycle Productions, and benefits Gilda’s Club South Jersey, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community providing emotional and social support benefits to those impacted by cancer.
Summer Cider Day || Port Townsend, Washington || The Northwest Cider Association invites cider enthusiast to sip some scrumpies along the Port Townsend waterfront at the fifth annual Summer Cider Day on August 8 from 12-5 pm. Take your pick of samples from more than 60 ciders provided by 17 cideries from all over the Pacific Northwest, from Olympia to Salem, Wenatchee and more. In between cider tastings and grabbing some grub from Sirens Pub, listen to a live performance by an award winning bluegrass band, the Whiskey Minstrels. On your way out don’t forget to pick up a bottle or two of some of your favorites from the day at the onsite store, selling cider selections from the day. Tickets cost $25 in advance $30 on the day of the event, and include admission, 10 tasting tickets and a souvenir NWCA tasting glass and can be purchased here. Bring the whole gang out to this all ages, family-friendly event at the Northwest Maritime Center.
Cider Stock || Middlebury, Vermont || Whether you are a big time music fanatic, or a cider crazer, this is a festival that should not be missed! On August 22, head over to the Woodchuck Cidery for a day of concert going and cider-sipping against a backdrop of mountains. Musical guests include Cage the Elephant and New Politics, as well as Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band and Madaila. An impressive assortment of local food vendors, including Island Ice Cream, Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ and A&W, accompany a large assortment of craft ciders both in can and on tap. This is an all ages event, and has something for every member of the family. Tickets cost $25 in advance and can be purchased here, doors open at 2 pm and the event stretches onto the evening ending at 10 pm.
Hard Pressed || Lisburn, Pennsylvania || The largest cider festival to hit Pennsylvania, or rather, to hit the entire East Coast is rapidly approaching. From 12-5 pm on August 22, Hard Pressed: Jubilation of Cider and Wine will take over the Lisburn Community Fire Department as it hosts cider makers from all over Pennsylvania. Put on by CrocodileDog Marketing, feel free to boogie down to live music, snack on an assortment of local foods and sample ciders from Big Hill Ciderworks, Civil War Cider, and many more! Gift Horse Brewing is even crafting up a special collaboration cider just for the occasion. As if it could not get any better, you pick the ticket price. Tickets are by donation, benefiting the Lisburn Community Fire Department. So pay what you can, then taste away! Tickets must be purchased online in advance and presented at the door of the event for access, and to insure that everyone gets a fair shot at this scrumptious opportunity, ticket sales are limited to one per buyer, but two per order and can be purchased here.
