About Us

The North Carolina Apple Festival is held annually over Labor Day Weekend in Hendersonville, North Carolina. It has been Western North Carolina’s Premier Family Festival for over 70 years.

From September 1-4, 2023 you can enjoy four days of fun including one of the most best-known Street Fairs in the Carolinas with freshly picked apples, arts & crafts, festival food and FREE entertainment at the Historic Courthouse on Hendersonville’s beautiful Main Street.

Start your day off with breakfast and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the excitement of Main Street as well as many other activities across the community. And on Labor Day, don’t forget the King Apple Parade!

Why do we celebrate our apples here in Henderson County? The apple has been called the loveliest of all fruits. It is also one of the most important agricultural crops grown in Henderson County. During a normal year it brings in an average income of $30 million dollars or more. Growing apples has been part of Henderson County’s culture and heritage since the mid 1700s. North Carolina is the 7th largest apple producing state in the nation and Henderson County grows 80% of this state’s crop.

The North Carolina Apple Festival is proud to include 14 local apple growers in the Street Fair. You can purchase a few apples or bushels of fresh locally grown apples. Many of the growers also feature items such as fried apple pies, apple cakes, apple butter and apple cider at the Festival.