The Bayfield Apple Festival, held every October in Bayfield, Wisconsin, is one of the Midwest’s most popular fall festivals, attracting around 60,000 visitors annually. Showcasing Wisconsin’s agriculture, particularly its apple orchards, Bayfield Applefest offers tours of the 14 most outstanding orchards in the area.
Festival Highlights
The Bayfield Apple Festival offers a bustling fair with over 60 street booths selling fresh food, wines, and local crafts. Visitors can enjoy an amusement park with rides for the whole family and live entertainment. Popular events include the apple peeling contest, the Crowning of the Apple Queen, and a Saturday evening fish fry at Lakeside Pavilion. The main festival locations are Downtown Bayfield and Memorial Park.
Grand Parade
The biggest highlight of the festival is the Grand Parade, featuring over 400 participants and marching bands. The parade winds down historic Rittenhouse Avenue to the shores of Lake Superior, closing out the weekend’s festivities in Bayfield. This year, visitors can enjoy crowd favorites The Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay and the Mass Band, making a return. The parade kicks off at 2 pm on October 6.
Dates
This year marks the 62nd edition of the Bayfield Apple Festival, taking place on October 4, 5, and 6. Admission is free for all attendees.
Getting There
Visitors can reach the festival grounds using convenient shuttle services. You can park at Legendary Waters Resort and Casino and take the shuttle to the Apple Festival, with pick-up and drop-off at the Madeline Island Ferry Terminal. Another option is Hauser’s Shuttle, which runs from Saturday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Park at Hauser’s Superior View Farm and catch the shuttle to the festival.
History of the Festival
The Bayfield Apple Festival was started in 1962 by Jim Erickson, a local orchard owner. The inaugural event attracted 5,000 attendees, and the festival has grown significantly ever since. It has earned numerous awards as one of the best small-town festivals.
