SHOREHAM — Champlain Orchards announces its 15th annual Harvestfest, a celebration of all that is wonderful about Vermont’s fall harvest. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m-4 p.m. at the Shoreham orchard located along the shores of Lake Champlain. Harvestfest at Champlain Orchards has become a Vermont tradition and is a day full of lively music, good food, companionship, cheer and celebration. Harvestfest is a great way for everyone to enjoy a crisp fall day at the orchard, pick some apples, enjoy a feast of local meats, vegetables, and of course apples, cider, pies and much more.
This year, Champlain Orchards welcomes the Bondville Boys, Southern Vermont’s favorite bluegrass band, to play for Harvestfest. The quintet is known for its sweet harmonies, sick picking, off-topic stage banter, good energy, washboard solos and eclectic set-lists. The Bondville Boys play a huge assortment of music, including a ton of original tunes and everything from Flatt and Scruggs to Blondie.
Champlain Orchard’s Harvestfest also gives people the opportunity to enjoy many aspects of one of Vermont’s longest continuously operating orchards. The orchard makes a full line of products and during Harvestfest there will be an opportunity to sample and purchase many of the orchard’s tasty products, fresh apples, sweet cider, pies and a traditional Vermont fall favorite, apple cider donuts.
New this year will be a special hard and ice cider tasting. With a renewed interest in hard and ice ciders (a Vermont specialty) the orchard has developed and launched three lines of hard and ice ciders that can be found in restaurants, country stores, and grocery/supermarket chains throughout Vermont and New England. Under the Pruner’s, Champlain Hard Cider and Champlain Orchards Ice Cider labels, the orchard is one of a very select group that grows, harvests, picks, handcrafts and bottles its own hard ciders, a true orchard-to-table hard cider.
Champlain Orchards is a family-owned and -run orchard that is ecologically managed and takes pride in growing over 50 varieties of apples, as well as organic fruits and berries. The orchard also produces value-added products, and award-winning ice and hand-crafted hard ciders. All products are made at the orchard in small batches using organic and local ingredients, and can be found in co-ops, country stores, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and supermarkets throughout Vermont, eastern upstate New York, and New Hampshire. To learn more about Champlain Orchards and this year’s Harvestfest, visit www.ChamplainOrchards.com or call 802-897-2777.