Bayfield Apple Fest is back, with a few activities missing

Bayfield Apple Fest is back, with live music, shopping, and food.

Like many events, Apple Fest was canceled last year due to Covid. This caused some people to find other ways to enjoy apples.

“Covid actually changed the whole dynamic of the market,” said Apple Hill Orchard Co-Owner Justin Sexton. “We had a lot of people experience the orchards. A lot of people think of Apple Fest and they associate it with downtown. They don’t see what goes on behind the scenes at the orchards. So last year, we saw a lot of customers, they didn’t have the opportunity to come down, so they did the tour of the fruit loop, and we saw a lot of new customers actually got to experience what the orchard is about, see where the apples are growing, so it was definitely, it was a good year, it was a different year.”

Now, Apple Fest is back, but with a few changes. To reduce risk of Covid exposure, there is no mass band in the parade, no carnival, no apple pie and dessert contest, no senior pie social, and the music venues have been spread out around downtown Bayfield.

Apple Fest is important for local farmers to sell their crop, but it’s also a chance to enjoy time with friends and family.

“It’s obviously very important for our survival year and year out,” explained Sexton. “But it’s also a reunion. The majority of the people that help this weekend are college roommates, college friends. We’ve been at each other’s weddings together, we go on hunting trips together. So we work hard, but it’s also great to catch up with friends that you haven’t seen for a long time.”

For many, Apple Fest is an annual tradition. Hannah Young brought her three-month-old son for his first Apple Fest.

“Since I was really young, probably four or five, we used to always camp at Copper Falls State Park, so now I do it with my baby,” said Young.

The full schedule of events for Bayfield Apple Fest this weekend can be found here.

The weather will be nice, but a raincoat may be needed. Chief Meteorologist Justin Liles has the details in the latest Storm Track Weather Forecast.