A National Apple Harvest Festival Pictorial.

I love the National Apple Harvest Festival. I beginning thinking about it every spring, watching plants sprout and blossom make me think about apples growing on the trees. This leads me to to think about apples being harvested and the wonderful experience of the harvest festival. I love it so much that I have written about it. But I don't feel that words capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of this wonderful autumn event. I can't share the sounds and flavors with you. However, I can share some of the sights. I hope you enjoy these photos.

Image Credit: Dawn Rae -- These photographs are a result of my travels. All Rights Reserved.

Apple-licious!

We left by 6:00 am in order to drive up to Arendtsville, PA in time for breakfast. I hear groaning out there. When you visit the National Apple Harvest Festival, you can choose to go up later in the day (however, I'd still advise going early to beat the traffic). We tend to be morning people, so it wasn't so early for us. We swing by to pick up the parents on the way. The drive up this morning is slighty foggy but promising to be a warm October day. The temperatures have been high enough that the leaves are barely beginning to change. As always, we enjoy the drive up from Baltimore, Maryland; passing through Ghettysburg, PA and surrounding areas. We arrive at the Festival before most of the crowd.

The approach to the National Apple Harvest Festival is gorgeous. Beginning in Biglersville, PA (if you are approaching from that direction) you begin to see the Large, orange signs for the Festival.

You will be directed to parking. If you park in one of the fields, make a point to remember which field. Then simply board the buses for a ride to the fairgrounds.

There is no end to the things to eat and drink at the National Apple Harvest Festival. Apples, Apple drinks, Apple items, meats, desserts, and so on and so on.

A variety of apple ciders.

A variety of things that I haven't even tried yet.

Did I mention that I love apples? I do. I really do. Especially when I have purchased them fresh, from a large wooden box, wet with morning dew.

There are entertainers, a petting zoo, activities such as face painting and "old fashioned games" geared specifically for the children. In this case, a firefighter gives children a demonstration of his fireman's suit. The children were enthralled. (PS. Thank you to all fireman, police officers, and EMTs for what you do).

Petting zoo. Attempting to pet the goat. Stretch.... stretch... just a little more...I almost have it....

Mom to the rescue.

HEY! Hay. Straw?

I never imagined that I would live long enough to see Straw as an attraction at a Festival. But I do remember how much fun it was to play in as a child.

I basically want at least one thing from each vendor. There is jewelry, furniture, soaps, candles, soft goods, art, and so much more. I've only scratched the surface with the variety of items shown here.

This photo is an indoor light fixture. Isn't it cool?

Jewelry.

Hand made goat soap. I bought a bar from this vendor this year.

An entire tent full of AMAZING watches. I could have browsed here for a very long time.

Gorgeous baskets and furniture.

Bird and Butterfly gourds. So cool.

The lines for the buses are clearly marked. Board your bus (ours was Wolf Field), charter bus, or wagon for the return trip. Enjoy the view and rest your weary feet.

I couldn't help but snap a photo of the almost full parking "lot" and the gorgeous sky.