Bayfield Expecting Thousands For 56th Annual Apple Festival

Bayfield, a city with the population of 487, is expecting around 60,000 people to show up this weekend to celebrate Apple Fest.

This year marks the 56^th annual Bayfield Apple Festival, according to Kelley Linehan, marketing director with the Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau. She said around 150 vendors will offer everything from apples to arts and crafts.

Linehan said people who are going to Apple Fest for the first time should get there early.

“Well, I would say, if possible, try to get here on Friday. That is the day that the festival starts and that day is traditionally the day we see the least amount of crowds,” she said. “So it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the festival and not have to contend with heavy crowds.”

Linehan encourages people to sample as much food from vendors as possible to get a taste of what Bayfield has to offer.

“All of our food vendors are encouraged to incorporate apple foods into their offerings,” she said. “There (are) all different kinds of apple foods — everything from caramel apples and apple pies to apple brats and apple chili.”

Linehan said the festival will also include live bands and a carnival.

“On Saturday, we have our apple peeling contest, which is a really fun event,” she said. “Participants have one hour to create the longest apple peel that they can, and, in fact, they do take that entire hour.”

Linehan said Apple Fest will begin on Friday and wrap up with the grand parade on Sunday afternoon, which will include nine high school bands and roughly 500 students.

Vendors will be at Apple Fest on Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The grand parade begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday.