Ely Apple Festival returns for 17th year

National Apple Day started 15 years ago and from these humble beginnings the event has grown to be one of the best apple celebrations in the region.

Ely has been a part of with the celebrations since 2000 and the festival encompasses both the educational and environmental aspects of the day. 

The festival will be held on Saturday 21st October on the Palace Green between 10am and 4:40pm with free entry.

Experts from East of England Apples and Orchard Project will once again be in attendance to identify any apples that residents wish to bring along and several competitions will be running throughout the day.

Over the course of the festival there will be candle making demonstrations, birds of prey, storytelling and plenty of activities to entertain the whole family. The festival will also see the return of the ever-popular longest apple peeling competition, apple and spoon racing and the apple shy.

A wide variety of apple themed culinary delights will be on offer and Ely’s very own Green Man will be appearing throughout the day.

Watergull Orchards who kindly supply all apples and bottles of juice for the various competitions will be on hand to talk visitors through over 25 varieties of apples as well as over 10 varieties of juice and cider.

Councillor David Ambrose-Smith, Chairman for the Community Services Committee said: “It’s always a joy to welcome back the Apple Festival to Ely. There’s so much to do and we hope that the day is both fun and informative for all”.

Apple festival sponsor, Orchard Green, are responsible for the new community development to the north of Ely.  With their assistance the Tourism and Town Centres Team are working with, local artist Jane Frost who is renowned for her work with willow, to create a willow apple sculpture with the pupils from Isle of Ely Primary School to be on show at the entrance of the festival.