Hendersonville, NC

The 63rd annual NC APPLE FESTIVAL HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE this past weekend in Hendersonville. The total numbers aren't in yet, but the feeling among the vendors was that the crowds were larger and their profits were bigger than in years past. Everything from home-churned apple ice cream to fried apple pies and caramel apples were offered up for sale. The streets were packed with vendors selling unique handmade crafts in between the apple grower's booths.

North Carolina ranks seventh in apple production in the United States and Henderson County produces the most. Hail, too much rain, frost and the spring freezes took a bite out of the apple crop. The yield this year is down about 40% but the apples overall are sweeter and bigger because of it.

The crowds enjoyed live music throughout the four-day event at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse that was completely renovated in recent years and is now a museum for all to enjoy. Downtown Hendersonville comes alive during the summer months with Music on Main and Monday Night Street Dances.

The rest of the year there are car shows, gallery strolls and antique shows as well as other events to bring people downtown. You never know who will show up. Even Elvis (Impersonators) occasionally visit to perform.

If you missed this year's NC Apple Festival, make plans to attend next year. It's held every year on Labor Day Weekend in downtown Hendersonville.

What was your favorite thing about this year's Apple Festival? Food? Music? Crafts?

Mountain Pie Company held their grand opening a few weeks ago and it was a roaring success! The name is new, as it was formerly known as The Front Porch Sweetery, but Merri Tyndall is still the owner and baker. See what they are all about here.

The menu is extensive for their breakfast selections and the pies and cakes are almost unlimited. If you don't see it on the list, just ask and Merri will magically come up with a recipe for you.

It's hard to imagine that there isn't anything that is already in the case that wouldn't appeal to you. From crepes to cookies, the ovens are cranking everyday...except on Mondays.

If you need a place for club meetings, birthday parties or tea; the Mountain Pie Company will be happy to accommodate your needs. For details click here.

Located at 3400 Asheville Highway, just North of Hendersonville, NC the Mountain Pie Company is expanding their selections with ice cream and music on the new outside deck.

Enjoy the mountain views from the new rear deck as you devour your pie, cake or ice cream.

For more information, to make a reservation or place an order, call 828-693-0501. You'll be glad you did!

The 2009 North Carolina Apple Festival marks the sixty third consecutive years the event has been held. The Apple Festival is held on Labor Day Weekend each year (Friday through Monday) to recognize the importance of the apple and the apple industry to Henderson County and North Carolina.
Henderson County's Famous Apple Festival is an outgrowth of the original Henderson County Centennial Celebration held in 1938. Following the centennial celebration, it was decided by a group of leading citizens that an annual fall festival was more desirable. For two years, 1939 and 1940, the event was held at the conclusion of the summer season. At the onset of World War II the festival was discontinued.
The festival program has varied slightly from year to year, but it has always contained crowd-pleasing events. Up until the mid 1980s, the festival was a week to ten days of activities.

Past activities included a beauty pageant (second only to the state's Miss North Carolina Pageant) muzzle-loader shoots, dancing and musical events. In 1988, the Apple Festival Committee shortened the event to four days to allow the festival to be considered as a well-packaged extended vacation for visitors and as exciting festivities for locals.
Events are varied, with Hendersonville's Historic Main Street hosting the most excitement. More than 150 vendors line eight blocks of the main event area. There is continuous entertainment on our professional stage from 10am to 10pm Friday through Sunday. The King Apple Parade, always held on Labor Day, culminates the Main Street activities. Reminiscent of early festivals, the North Carolina Apple Festival closes with a street dance.

The 2009 NC Apple Festival will be held on Main Street in downtown Hendersonville, NC over the weekend of September 4-7, 2009. The festival not only features a street fair with arts & crafts vendors but it includes continuous live musical entertainment, apple growers and their apples, children's & youth activities, special exhibits & open houses, food, and, to top it all off, on Labor Day, the King Apple Parade. Capture the spirit of a hometown celebration that has something for the whole family, with many individual events and entertainers throughout the festival. The festival is held annually, during the Labor Day weekend.

The Apple Festival's Street Fair covers 9 blocks of Main Street with more than 150 vendors . Main Street is closed to traffic from 6th Avenue to Caswell Street.
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina. The most widely-grown apples are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Galas. In addition, many orchards grow a number of other varieties. Fresh apples may be purchased at one of the many roadside apple markets or produce stands located throughout the county.

63 years..................................September 4-7, 2009

While the summer months are beginning to wane, Hendersonville is still alive with the sound of music, laughter and art. Tuxedo Junction will be performing music from the 40's through the 90's at the Music on Main Street event on Friday, August 28th, from 7-9pm in Hendersonville. There will also be a classic car show hosted by the Hendersonville Antique Car Club happening in addition to the Music on Main Street performance. This event is sponsored by Burger King and FREE to the public. Make sure you bring a chair and leave the pets and alcohol at home.

Monday, August 31st, is the last scheduled performance of the Southern Crescent Bluegrass and the Rough Creek Cloggers at the 91st Street Dances on Main Street. Also sponsored by Burger King, this event is FREE to the public. You just need to bring a chair and enjoy the show from 7-9pm.

Going on now through September 26th, the Arts Council is hosting a "Bring Us Your Best" show at the Neill Gallery on Main Street. Visitors are welcome to attend this juried and judged show of artisans from all around the Hendersonville area absolutely FREE. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 1-5pm and Saturdays from 1-4pm.

If you have a chance, head over to the Flat Rock Playhouse anytime from now through September 6th to catch their romantic comedy Real Estate, about what happens when selling your home. Performances are at 8:15pm, with matinees on the weekends at 2:15pm. Please call 866-732-8008 for more info.