A First Look into Washington Cider Week

What are you drinking? The seventh annual cider week returns to Washington State September 7-17.

This time of year means Washington’s apple harvest is in full swing statewide, with apples ready to occupy your homes and future pint glasses. What better way to close out your summer and start the harvest season with a cider week?

We’re nine short days away from Washington Cider Week, a 10-day celebration with endless craft and cider-centric festivities. The seventh annual jubilee will feature events from tap takeovers of your favorite Washington producers, cidermaker dinners and tastings.

Kick off the week right by sampling anniversary barrels at Schilling Cider House’s third birthday party in their Fremont location, or dance the night away on Capitol Hill with Oregon neighbors, 2 Towns Ciderhouse.

These will hopefully prepare you for the grand-master of Washington Cider Week events: Cider Summit Seattle. The region’s largest hard cider festival will feature over 150 selections to sample from, including Pacific Northwest favorites, international picks and cider cocktails, all in Seattle’s South Lake Union. This year includes a Fruit Cider Challenge, where guests will cast their vote on the best fruit-infused cider.

The following Sunday morning, attendees can wind down with some post-festival yoga and cidermosas in The Woods, Seattle Cider Co.’s SODO tasting room. Be sure to return to The Woods to celebrate our “Tasting Cider” book launch party on Thursday, September 14. Sip from Seattle Cider’s special releases, buy a copy of the book to get signed by author Erin James and raise your glass with the CIDERCRAFT team, knowing $1 of each cider purchased goes to City Fruit.

The east side of the state will also get in on the cider love — Tieton Cider Works is throwing an End of Summer Party at their Yakima tasting room. As always, the cider will be flowing, including the newly-released Huckleberry cider. Live music and local taco trucks will also be onsite to enjoy.

Cap off the week and hang out with Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, in which the Portland crew takes over Schilling Cider House with their notoriously adventurous and enjoyable ciders.