Most of the events and festivals I write about last a day, a weekend, maybe Thursday through Sunday. But the Portland Nursery Apple Tasting Event extends over two long weekends. This means you have another opportunity next weekend, Friday through Saturday, October 16-18, to taste over 65 varieties of apples and pears, take a few kilos home with you, have some apple strudel with softserve, watch cooking demonstrations, and also tipple an amazing variety of hard ciders at the 1st Annual Artisan Hard Cider Festivals.
Heather and I just had time for a quick visit to the event yesterday. Our goal was to grab a few good baking apples and cider for an evening dinner party (the Jonagolds we settled on turned out to be a good choice for our cider-baked apples with cranberries and walnuts). But we also made time to try the apple strudel with softserve and to take a few photos.
There was a long line inside the big apple tent for purchasing apples; apparently most visitors didn’t know you can also get your apples weighed and paid for at the exits, where there are very short lines. They’ll drop a bright pink slip into the paid-for bags if you don’t want to leave yet.
The line for the apple tasting was very long, but how often do you have a chance to taste 67 varieties of apples and pears all at once? Heather and I hope to return next weekend, right when they open, to get our chance.
There’s live music too. These guys are called Sneakin’ Out. They played mostly covers, but in their own inimitable fashion. Check out that drum set!
Wandering Aengus Ciderworks of Salem hosts the artisan hard cider festival within a festival. Five bucks gets you 10 samples of an amazing variety of ciders from around the country. Saturday was the first day, and they were working out some logistical issues, but they’re back today (Sunday, October 11th), and will also be serving up samples next weekend.
Oh yes, we’ll be back next weekend to try some of these ciders!
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