Hendersonville Prepares for 80th Annual North Carolina Apple Festival
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Hendersonville Prepares for 80th Annual North Carolina Apple Festival
- The 80th annual North Carolina Apple Festival is scheduled to take place in Hendersonville from September 4th to September 7th, 2026, and is expected to attract over 250,000 attendees.
- The festival, themed "80 Years Strong: A Sweet Tradition," celebrates Henderson County's apple-growing heritage, with the county producing 85% of all apples grown in North Carolina.
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Hendersonville, North Carolina, is gearing up to host the 80th annual North Carolina Apple Festival, a significant four-day event held over Labor Day weekend from September 4th to September 7th, 2026. This year’s theme, “80 Years Strong: A Sweet Tradition,” highlights eight decades of celebrating Henderson County’s rich apple-growing legacy.
The festival is a major draw, annually attracting over 250,000 visitors who come to experience the diverse offerings. Henderson County plays a crucial role in the state’s apple industry, producing 85% of North Carolina’s apples and cultivating more than 40 varieties, including popular ones like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp. The festival is a testament to the apple industry’s economic importance, contributing over $12 million to the local economy each year.
Attendees can look forward to a vibrant street fair along Main Street, featuring numerous arts and crafts vendors, continuous live entertainment, and a wide array of apple-inspired treats. Fourteen local apple growers will be present, offering fresh-picked apples and various apple products. The festivities also include pancake breakfasts, children’s activities, and an apple recipe contest. The event culminates with the beloved King Apple Parade on Monday, September 7th, at 2:30 p.m.
The idea for an apple festival in the area dates back to a Harvest Festival in 1937, with the North Carolina Apple Festival officially beginning in 1948. Main Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the festival, with closures beginning on Thursday, September 3rd. For the convenience of visitors, parking will be available in city lots and a parking deck, with a $10 daily flat-rate fee for the parking deck.