Summer of Cider: Part One

We’ve heard that you’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cider. You don’t have to wait for fall to get apples back into your life. This summer there are many events aimed at making sure your cider fix is sufficiently satiated. From coast to coast, there is something for all cider lovers around the country.

OMSI After Dark Ciderfest || June 22 || Portland, OR || This adults-only affair allows the inner kid to come out at the Rose City’s celebrated science center, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Guests can concoct chemical creations and shoot off water rockets will chatting with a local cidermaker about the history, tradition and science behind the craft. Admissions is $30 and includes a souvenir juice glass and eight tasting tokens.

Pacific Northwest Cider Awards & Tasting Festival || June 25 ||  Seattle || With more than 145 ciders from 38 cideries being judged, the Pacific Northwest Cider Festival will have the best of the best out for your own judgments. Ciders from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia will compete against each other at the one-day private judging event, and following the judging, there will be an all-day festival taking place at The Woods tasting room in downtown Seattle. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and admission includes a PNWCA tasting glass and eight tasting tokens, each good for a 4-ounce pour, of any of the 30+ Northwest ciders on tap.

Pittsburgh Cider & Mead Fest || July 17 || Pittsburgh, PA || Hosted by Arsenal Cider House, the details are still coming together for this festival of apples and honey but one thing is sure: cider and mead will be abundant. Live music and fresh food is also on the docket for the folks of The ‘Burgh to come out strong for cider. Price is currently TBD.

Orcas Island Cider & Mead Festival || July 23 || Village Green, Eastsound, WA || Crisp cider and strong mead with a beneficial cause of the community, the festival benefits the island’s “farm-to-cafeteria” program. The program helps students make conscious decisions about their health and the food they eat, with an emphasis on sustainability. A wide variety of Pacific Northwest cider and mead will be pouring at the event from producers all across the region.

Atlantic City Cider Social || August 6 || Atlantic City || Summer is celebrated by way of cider for the second year at the Atlantic City Beach. The event brings back 30 different cider and mead producers, food exhibitors, cooking demonstrations, live music, seminars on cider, a bonfire and much more on the waterfront. Tickets are $40, which includes your tasting cup, entertainment and cider tastings.

Ciderfeast || August 6 || New York City || Back with more than 30 ciders (many returning for a second year), this NYC soirée is set on the scenic Manhattan East River at Solar One. Two sessions (afternoon and evening) are offered for guests to pair ciders with summer’s best grilled grub. The outdoor cider event includes nearly a dozen different cidermakers, meat grilling stations, vegetarian girilling stations, live music and VIP early entry options. Tickets are $55-80.

Summer Cider Day || August 6 ||  Port Townsend, WA || Historic Port Townsend, known for its unique location between the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, is also home to one of the most recognized craft cider festivals in the region. The sixth annual Summer Cider Day sports live music, more than 20 different Northwest cider companies and a cider store where you can purchase all of the great ciders you tasted, are just a few of the exciting things to stumble across at the festival. Hosted at the Northwest Maritime Center on the waterfront, tickets are only $25.