Bobbing for apples has a whole new meaning in the cider world — sift through the vast selection of ciders at these upcoming cider events to find your old favorites and discover new makers throughout the month of October.
Pour the Core: Long Island || Calverton, NY || Oct. 1 || Aficionados, enthusiasts and everyone who falls into any category in between, get greedy for the fifth annual Pour the Core in Long Island. With more than 75 ciders, it’s suggested you bring a lawn chair or blanket to sprawl out on and drink fine cider. Be sure to make it to both, because missing a cider event isn’t something any of us should do. || Tickets start at $45.
Vander Fest || Spring Lake, MI || Oct. 1 || In a partnership with the Michigan Cider Association, Vander Mill brings this celebration of cider to the lake shore with an evening of cider, beer, music, lights and more (the list of participants is still out but bound to be good). The tickets get you entry, entertainment, a glass and 8 drink tickets for four- and eight-ounce pours of cider or beer. || Tickets start at $35.
Cider Days and RMCA Hard Cider Tasting || Lakewood, CO || October 1-2 || The state’s oldest and longest running hard cider festival, as part of the greater Lakewood Cider Days at the Lakewood Heritage Center, the Rocky Mountain Cider Association’s (RMCA) Hard Cider Tasting returns for its fifth year. Celebrating Colorado’s booming cider scene, this event is a fundraiser for the Lakewood Rotary Club as well as the RMCA. || Tickets start at $25.
Gorge Cider Adventure || Hood River, OR || Oct. 8 || Walk through orchard rows and discover what makes the delicious alcoholic juice that’s in your cup at the Gorge Cider Adventure. All day, learn everything cider from pressing to harvesting and, to cap it off, attendees will receive free admittance to the Celebration of Beer event hosted by Skamania Lodge. Just make sure you can still remember techniques after drinking all the cider! || Tickets start at $80.
Portland City of Cider || Portland, OR || Oct. 14-15 || For two days, the Rose City turns into Cider City, with more than two dozen producers of cider, wine, beer and spirits pouring at the Portland Expo Center to directly benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. || Tickets start at $10.
Cider Fest NC || Asheville, NC || Oct. 15 || Relax in a serene park located next to a river with an ice cold cider in your grasp. This up-scale cider fest not only incudes the big, popular ciders that most of us know, but there will also be ciders you may have never heard of, as well. When you’ve gotten your share, kick back and listen to the sounds put on by five different artists or munch on the selection of artisanal cheese, caramels and baked goods from local vendors. || Tickets start at $15.
Pour the Core: Boston || Boston || Oct. 22 || Back for its second year with two sessions, this party goes down in Boston’s Theatre District with more than 40 brand of locally and internationally-sourced ciders. The event will also help raise funds for The Barton Center for Diabetes Education. Local favorites like Downeast and Far from the Tree will be in attendance right next to global sensations. || Tickets start at $45.
Colorado Hard Cider Festival | Paonia, CO || Oct. 29 || Grab some buds and make it down to the 4th annual hard cider fest located at Delicious Orchards. This family-friendly event includes many fall harvest activities, such as gourd painting, pumpkin carving and apple pressing, along with live folk, reggae, bluegrass music and much more. It’s not a party until the cider starts flowing, with a varying level of admission options from cider taste and enthusiast to VIP status. || Tickets start at $20.
