By Liana Scarsella
Photo by Kathy Rankin Photography
From the elementary days of bestowing an apple upon your favorite teacher to your current satisfying cider-sipping nights, fall has always been synonymous with the sentimental fruit. Because our apple-adoring continent will never find enough ways to celebrate the existence of said fruit, cider-centered events will continue throughout the season, coast to coast.
To be sure you bestow some of that goodness upon yourself, we’ve compiled a list of ‘em for you to amplify your agenda with, starting next week.
Cider Swig || September 26
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to the likeminded cider-driven folk at the southern tip of the greater Seattle area. For its second annual gathering, the Greater Peninsula Cider Festival, or Cider Swig, will unite tree huggers and cider lovers alike from the nature-wise Gig Harbor community to benefit environmental education. Eager palates are mandatory to taste your selection of over 80 ciders presented by a variety of regional cidermakers, but we hear they’ll let you in even if you forget your flannel and beard this time around.
Cider Week Finger Lakes || October 2-11
With more than 50 participating locations, the only thing running dry during Cider Week Finger Lakes may be the cider of your choosing, if you opt for those on the less-sweet end of the spectrum. All grounds will be covered during this bountiful week including tastings, three-course meals, cidermaker meetings and orchard tours throughout New York apple country. Fortunately, you have over a week to appreciate the apple overdose during your busy fall schedule, so we won’t be hearing any excuses from you.
NW Ciderfest || October 10-11
Celebrate autumn by enefiting children with neuromuscular diseases at the NW Ciderfest. This festival encourages you to enjoy a weekend of tastings, food trucks and live music in the heart of downtown Portland with the knowledge that your drink is in support of good flavor and a good cause. Feel free to bring the whole crew to this family-friendly event, and even your furry friend.
19th Annual Great International Beer & Cider Competition || October 24
The Great International Beer Festival may take place in the smallest state in America, but it sure does pack a spiked apple punch. Known to New Englanders as the largest Beer Festival in the Northeast, the Providence-based event is returning bigger than ever this year, along with the 19th Annual Great International Beer & Cider Competition. Your ticket will buy you unlimited tastings of more than 250 beers and ciders, plus pizza, but be sure to save room for some good old-fashioned competition, because you’ll be voting on your favorite brewery after you’ve cleaned your glass.
McKenzie Cider and Craft Beer Festival || November 13-14
McKenzie Cider and Craft Beer Festival has found a way to offer you a variety of Oregon’s best craft beers and ciders brewed with love, while providing children in need with Bags of Love, sending warm fuzzies all across the county. After you’ve sufficiently sampled what Lane County has to offer in the drinks department, keep an eye out for the onsite Vendors’ Marketplace in order to take a bit of that love home with you.
