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Apple Days Festival & Market to Go returns to Burnside Plantation Sept. 16-17
August 23rd, 2023
BETHLEHEM, PA, AUGUST 23, 2023 — Get ready to embrace autumn in the Lehigh Valley at Apple Days & Market To Go!
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ flavorful fall festival is coming to the Burnside Plantation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept.17. The event is set to feature great food; live music; fresh, delicious varieties of apples and desserts, Colonial cooking, gardening, and historic demonstrations; pony rides; kids activities; and help us celebrate Burnside’s 275th birthday!
The scenic 6.5-acre Colonial farm in the city is located at 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem — along Monocacy Creek.
HBMS’ Market To Go will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept.15 at Burnside to pick up your pre-ordered desserts.
With tasty treats like fresh Tomblers’ apple pies, Bakery Nook coffee cake, apple strudel, and Bethlehem Dairy Store ice cream, you’ll want to make a plan to join us to indulge your sweet tooth.
New this year
Cornhole Tournament: For the first time, Apple Days is hosting an exciting Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 16. Entry is $40 per two-person team and includes players’ admission to the festival for the day. To enter, visit historicbethlehem.org for registration and information — or contact event coordinator Kristy Steier at 908-752-2291.
“Pigcasso” Paintings: You read that correctly. Animal lovers can gather around and watch these adorable little piggies create colorful works of original art. Then, the curiously unique potbelly paintings (5 x 7 inch or 8 x 11 inch canvases) will be available to purchase and take home.
Burnside’s 275th Birthday Party: Visit the Burnside Farmhouse as members prepare for a Colonial birthday party. Lend a helping hand in preparations like washing clothing, cooking birthday treats in the Summer Kitchen, and setting the table for party guests.
Apple Days logo design contest: HBMS is offering an opportunity for aspiring artists in the third through sixth grades. Students are invited to create a new logo for Apple Days. The winning design will be selected and featured in all marketing promotions for Apple Days 2024. Submissions can be made online at historicbethlehem.org until Sept. 12. Finalists will be exhibited during Apple Days festival weekend, and the winner will be announced at Sept. 17.
Save on admission tickets, tastings, and treats
Order your tickets today (prior to the event) and save a few bucks.
General admission is $10 before Sept. 16 and $12 the day of the event; $5 for kids (4-17).
Single-Day Family Packs are $25 before Sept. 16 event. This includes admission for two adults and two children.
Two-Day Family Packs are just $30 before Sept. 16 event. This includes admission for two adults and two children for Saturday and Sunday.
Apple Brewery Tent passes and admission are $25 before Sept. 16 and $27 the day of the event — includes a tasting glass and four tastings. Get an extra tasting at our Apple Brewery Tent if you order tickets before Sept. 16
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are always welcome at Burnside.
If you’re unable to make it Saturday or Sunday for a delicious dessert, place your order today and pick up your goodies Friday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our convenient Market to Go.
Please note that preordered desserts to be picked up on Saturday or Sunday require festival admission. Preordered desserts for pick up on Friday will be at Burnside Plantation between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and do not require festival admission.
Delicious foods and apple delights
Find a comfortable spot with your family and enjoy lunch, or a snack Saturday and Sunday from the festival’s delicious gourmet food vendors including Big Poppas, Heaven on a Bun, Taco Town, and Knowlton Lions Roasted Corn.
Save room for delicious desserts like apple pie, ice cream, caramel apples, strudel, coffee cake, and birch beer floats.
Bonanza Boxes for $38 are available now for pre-order and include a Tomblers’ Apple Pie, and Bakery Nook Apple Strudel and Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
Beer, wine, and cocktails
Quench your thirst at the Apple Brewery Tasting Tent for craft beer from Bru Daddy’s, Logyard, and special selections from Banko Beverage. Also, Franklin Hills wines; Xplorer Spirits; and Under the Bridge Cider will be pouring at the event.
Live music all weekend
Enjoy live music all weekend at our Apple Brewery stage (upper meadow) and Community Stage (lower meadow) from Smooth Retsina Glow, Tom Storm, Acoustic Mayhem, Valley Collective Band, Sadie Pepitone, and more. Visit the HBMS website for times and stages.
Pony Rides and more animals for kids
Apple Days will also feature popular kids’ pony rides and petting zoo from Sunset Boarding Stables. Make a new furry friend with our farm animals including goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and rabbits.
Pony rides are $5 per ride, and feed for the petting zoo is available for $2.
Don’t forget to visit with the Tri County Pot Belly Pigs.
Contests, games, and activities
Family activities in addition to this year’s Cornhole Tournament include children’s crafts; lawn games; donut eating contests; baking competitions for kids and adults; live demonstrations including Colonial cooking, brewing, and blacksmithing; and historic house and barn tours.
Plus guests can stop by the award-winning Burnside Colonial Garden to see and learn about growing amazing vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Who has the best apple dessert in Bethlehem?
Use your best baking recipe and compete in the culinary contest for kids or adults — sponsored by King Arthur Baking Company. The Adult Culinary Contest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2:15 p.m. and the Kids Under 15 Culinary Contest will be held on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2:15 p.m.
The contest will be judged for prizes to be awarded to first, second, and third-place winners. Register online by Wednesday, Sept. 13. Registration is free and does not include festival admission.
Crafters, artists, and vendors
Stop by to browse, learn about, and purchase delicious foods and beautiful arts and crafts from Keystone Farms Cheese, Deirdre Rose Designs, Pittston Popcorn, Green Kamikozees, Resilient Farms and more.
Market to go info
Can’t join us for the festival but don’t want to miss out on your favorite apple desserts and cheeses by Keystone Farms? Pre-orders are available at the HBMS’ online store now and available for pick up at our Market to Go on Friday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This drive-up and pick-up service at Burnside offers all sweet fall favorites for speedy convenience.
Parking, shuttles and how to get to the festival
Burnside Plantation is located at 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018.
Individuals with mobility issues can be dropped off on-site.
Parking on the Burnside festival grounds is limited to staff, volunteers, vendors, and performers.
Festival parking is available next to the grounds on the east side of Monocacy Creek at the Moravian University Lot at W 1150 Mauch Chunk Road — just a short walk from the festival grounds.
Shuttle service is available from Nitschmann Middle School, 1002 West Union Boulevard, Bethlehem with shuttles on loop trips available to Burnside Plantation.
Dogs are permitted at the festival, but not permitted on the shuttles.
All proceeds from this event help Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites to maintain 20 historic landmarks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In addition to supporting Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, visitors will be supporting Lehigh Valley and regional businesses.
Event details
When: Festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17; Market to Go is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15
Where: Burnside Plantation: 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem
How much: General admission is $10 before Sept. 16 and $12 day of event; $5 for kids (4-17); Single-Day Family Packs are $25 before Sept. 16 (admission for two adults and two children); Two-Day Family Packs are $30 before Sept. 16 event (admission for two adults and two children for Saturday and Sunday); Apple Brewery Tent passes and admission $25 before Sept. 16 and $27 day of event; Extra tasting at Apple Brewery Tent if tickets purchased before Sept. 16.
Parking/shuttles: Parking is available next to the grounds on the east side of Monocacy Creek at the Moravian University Lot at W 1150 Mauch Chunk Road. Bus shuttles available from Nitschman Middle School, 1002 West Union Boulevard, Bethlehem with shuttles on loop trips available to Burnside.
