Michigan Apple Festivals in 2024

Update for 2024:

It looks like most festivals are returning, aside from those that were killed off by the lockdowns of the past 2 years. That took a heavy toll on their finances. I am checking with them day by day, if you have an update for an, please tell me via the Feedback form.

Looking for a apple festival in Michigan in 2024? (just scroll down the page)There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the apple festivals in Michigan we can find are listed on this page! If you love strawberries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm always looking for more apple festivals! Please write me, if you know of any to add!  I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website. 

Always click on the links to the festival to confirm this year's dates; weather and other conditions could cause a change at the last minute. They may change or cancel at the last minute. . If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Click here for the form to add a festival and have detailed information; or click here if you have general information and are not connected with the event!

2024 Apple Festivals in Michigan - Where, When and More to Find an Apple Festival Near You!

Michigan

Apples typically ripen from July (yes, some early varieties start then, especially in southern areas) through early November.  Most apple varieties ripen in Spetember and October and this is when most apple festivals are held.  Unlike strawberries, which grow almost anywhere, apples are grown commercially in half as many states. They do not grow well in very warm climates, like Florida, and along the Gulf coast, etc. Apples require a certain number of hours of cold (below 40 F) in order to produce fruit. So most commercial apple production and apple festivals are north of Interstate 20 (I-20).

There are two general types of apple festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Apple festival held at and by a farm. They are different in what they offer, and community festivals tend to be less expensive so they are grouped separately. (of course not all states and areas have both.)
Following the festival listings are links to our easy to follow directions about making apple jam, freezing apples, apple pies and much more.

Community Apple Festivals

Kent County

• Michigan Apple Fest - Event date and time: Saturday and Sunday September from 10am to 7pm
  Downtown Sparta, Mi, Sparta, MI 49345. Phone: (616) 887-2454. Email: michiganapplefest@gmail.com. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Click here for our Facebook page. apples, produce for sale, produce for sale, parking provide free, snacks and refreshment stand, musical entertainment, cooking or fruit/veg judging, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, petting zoo, petting zoo,

Ingham County

• Apple Butter Festival - In October, call for this year's dates.  from 11 am to 5 pm
  Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mt. Hope Ave. Lansing, MI. Phone: 517-483-4224. Phone: 517-483-4224. Admission: Free Come out to Fenner Nature Center and tempt your taste buds with fresh cider and apple butter being made right before your eyes.

Oceana County

• Apple and BBQ Cook-off Festival Apple & BBQ Cook-off Festival - September
  Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Email: info@thinkdunes.com. Phone: (231) 873-2247. Fax: (231) 873-1683.Come enjoy this Fall Festival highlighting the Michigan BBQ, farm fresh apples of Oceana County, and much more. Festival is held in the business district of Silver Lake Sand Dunes located six miles west of US-31 at the Hart/Mears exit 149. Apples and BBQ from the Michigan-sanctioned Kansas City BBQ Cook-off combine with family activities and local sand dune attractions.

Other areas in Michigan (as yet uncategorized)

• Arts and Apples Festival - held annually on the weekend following Labor Day
  Rochester Park, MI.  Phone: (248) 651-4110. Fax: (248) 651-4757. Email: artapples@pccart.org. Held in the scenic 30-acre Rochester Park, located in Downtown Rochester, Michigan. The festival is Michigan's second largest juried fine arts festival and is part of Sunshine Artist Magazine's TOP 35 festivals in the nation! The 43rd annual festival is set for September 5th, 6th, & 7th and includes over 250 fine art exhibitors, a variety of food, live entertainment, and free kids art activities.
• Belding Applefest - In September, call for this year's dates.
  Belding, MI. Phone: 616-794-2210.
• Charlevoix Apple Festival - early October; October 8-10, 2021 on Fri & Sat 10 am to 6 pm, Sun 10 am to 4 pm
  Charlevoix, MI. Phone: 231-547-2101. In October, call for this year's dates. A 3-day event held yearly to honor local orchards and growers who, in the spirit of the season, bring the fall harvest to you. More than 30 types of apples, including the hard to find "antique varieties", will be on hand as well as other fall harvest items such as pumpkins, squash, jam, honey and cider. This popular event provides adults and children alike with fun and exciting activities including a craft show featuring 100 craftsmen ready to show their wares. There will be face painting, apple bobbing, a petting zoo, hand-led pony rides and more.
• Ciderfest & Craft Show - late September
  Diehl's Orchard, Holly, Michigan. Phone: (248) 634-8981. Fax: (248) 634-0059. Email: moreinfo@www.diehlsorchard.com 1 mile fun run at 8:30am. 4 mile run at 9 am. We make cider and donuts on site. Craft show until 6 pm both days.
• Coldwater Apple Festival - The 3rd Saturday in September from 9 am to 4 pm
  Downtown Coldwater, Coldwater, MI. Phone: (517) 279-9501. Email: marketing@coldwater.org. Annual craft show featuring handmade crafts and collectibles. 100's of apple products featured. The AppleFest and StrawberryFest in Coldwater, Michigan is un by the City of Coldwater. (UPDATED: August 09, 2023)
• Fall Harvest Days - September  and October
  Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI. Phone: 313-271-1620.
• Fenton Applefest - September
  Fenton, Michigan. Phone: 810-629-2251. The decision to modify Applefest again was not taken lightly. Our Chairman, Volunteers and Corporate Sponsors invite you to participate in Applefest 2021 by supporting the following Applefest events that will take place this year:
  Raffle drawing on September 19th @ 6 pm
  2nd Annual Golf Outing, September 10th @ The Coyote Preserve Golf Club
  Apple Pie Sales
  Apple Pie Auction
• Happy Apple Days - October
  Downtown Port Huron, MI. Phone: (810) 985-8843. Fax: (810) 985-9711. Email: mainstreet@mainstreetph.com. A harvest celebration filled with activities for all ages! Enjoy horse and trolley rides, a pie eating contest, a scarecrow contest, and a roller racer obstacle course. Come enjoy free apples and fresh cider at participating stores in historic downtown Port Huron.
• Niles Michigan's Best Festival - several days in late September
  Niles, MI. We are a four day festival based in Niles, Michigan. Phone: (269) 683-8870. Fax: (269) 687-8843.The festival is one of the top festivals in the State of Michigan. Four Flags Area Apple Festival is on the corner of Lake and 17th Street. We offer Carnival rides, Food vendors, Arts and Crafts on Saturday and Sunday with over 190 booths, Parades, Contests, FREE Entertainment, and Much Much MORE for all to enjoy!!!
• Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple and BBQ Festival  - September 10, 2021 and September 11, 2021
  AFTER A SHORT HIATUS DUE TO COVID 19, THE FESTIVAL IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE IT'S RETURN FOR 2021. THE 2021 APPLE & BBQ FESTIVAL IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH & 11TH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!  Festival Includes
  Amateur BBQ Cook-Off Competition
  Craft Show
  Classic Auto & ORV Show
  Kid's Activities
  Beer Tent
  5K Apple A Day Run/Walk
  Live Entertainment & Great Food
• St. John Fenton Applefest -  Usually in mid-September, call for this year's dates.
  600 N. Adelaide St. Fenton, MI 48430. Phone: (810) 629-2252 and 810-629-2251. Fax: (810) 735-3071. Email: applefest2008@charter.net. An event for the entire family with games, rides, food, prizes and more.
• St. Simon Apple Fest - In October, call for this year's dates.
  Ludington, MI. Phone: 231-843-8606. The annual Applefest fundraiser for St. Simon Parish is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a Saturday. This year, as in years past, a variety of apples provided by Hackert Family Farms, will be sold outside of the school. The varieties range from honey crisp, gala, Macintosh, cortland and golden delicious.
• Other Michigan Apple Festivals -
  There are so many apple festivals in Michigan that it is hard to locate the smaller ones, but here are the others I could find! I'm looking for current information about these:
  - Apple Butter Festival
  - Apple Cider Century Bike Ride
  - Armada Applefest
  - Arts and Apples Festival (Rochester)
  - Belding Applefest (Belding)
  - Ciderfest and Craft Show
  - Coldwater Applefest
  - Fall Harvest Days
  - Four Flags Area Apple Festival (Niles)
  - Happy Apple Days

Farm Apple Festivals

In addition to community and church festivals, some private farms have their own apple festivals.  See each farm for this year's dates (they often do not announce them until the end of May). They usually have PYO apples then, too.  Also, scroll down to see the links to recipes, freezing, canning and jam making directions at the bottom of the page.

Macomb County

• Cider Dayze Festival at Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill - August
  17985 Armada Center Rd, Armada, MI 48005. MICHIGAN'S PREMIER CRAFT CIDER & BEER FESTIVAL. Cider Dayze is a non-profit event put on by the Armada Lions Club, hosted by Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill. They continue to update their site with participating breweries, musicians and vendors so check back soon.

Livingston County

• Kapnick Orchards - apple festival (over 40 years) , typically held on a weekend in early October on Saturday 9-6 pm. and Sunday 10-5 p.m
  4245 Rogers Hwy., Britton, MI 49229. Phone: 517-423-7419. Email: kapnicks@tc3net.com. Country farm market. Apples, peaches, cider, doughnuts, cherries, pears, pumpkins, honey and fruit baskets. We ship apples Sept.-Jan. Greenhouse open in Spring. Open: year 'round, Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 p.m. Sun. 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: From M-50 turn S onto Rogers Hwy. Farm is 4 miles on left side. Only 15 miles from Cabela's. 

 

Related Apple Information: Freezing, Making Jam, Jelly, Canning, Apple Pies, Recipes and More

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated apple directions:

• tips for picking apples at a farm, 
• our guide to apple varieties! Which type of apple is best for sauce? Fresh? Pie?: See our extensive guide to apple varieties and their uses
  

Recipes and Canning directions

• How to make applesauce 
• How to make apple butter
• How to make apple bread (also known as Ellijay apple bread)
• How to make apple crisp
• How to make apple cobbler
• How to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh whole pumpkin! 
• How to make apple jelly
• How to make apple pie filling (canned)
• How to can apples
• How to make applesauce for a single meal (not canning it) with NO special equipment
• Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
• How to make dried apple slices

 

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!