Get ready… Hereford AppleFest is returning for 2024!
28 September to 13 October 2024
Hereford AppleFest is returning for 2024!
Celebrating Herefordshire’s iconic apple heritage, Hereford AppleFest will be returning from 28 September until 13 October, with 2 weeks of incredible apple-themed events taking place across the County.
The festival will commence with the Hereford AppleFest Kick-Off on 28 September, a day full of live music, artisan cider, perry and apple juice, children’s activities, art and exhibitions, the Saturday market and even an AppleFest Film which can be watched here! Last year saw hundreds flock to Hereford city centre to enjoy one of the City’s biggest events of the year, and 2024 is set to be just as exciting.
Fringe events will take place in various locations across Herefordshire during the two weeks, with activities and events ranging from cider and perry talks and tastings, orchard tours, live music, and much more. Many of Herefordshire’s most distinguished cider and perry producers will be offering exclusive experiences.
Herefordshire has over 15,000 acres of orchards producing 150,000 tonnes of apples and pears each year, alongside dozens of cider makers large and small dotted across Herefordshire’s verdant land. Our region has the perfect soils and weather to grow the finest apples and pears in the world, not to mention centuries of experience in crafting fine apple juice, cider and perry. Hereford AppleFest celebrates that heritage annually with two weeks of apple, cider and perry related experiences across the entire County.
The AppleFest Banquet will bookend the two weeks of Hereford AppleFest with a unique experience sure to excite any cider and perry enthusiast, offering a pome-themed banquet hosted in the distinguished Assembly Hall of Hereford Town Hall.
We’re incredibly excited to see Hereford AppleFest returning for its third year, bringing a host of fantastic events to the County and celebrating Herefordshire’s long-standing connection to the apple. We hope to see you there!
A Hereford City Council event in partnership with: Big Apple Association, Catcher Media, Herefordshire CAMRA, Encore Enterprises, Hereford City Life, Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire Council, Little Pomona Orchard & Cidery, Museum of Cider, Three Counties Cider and Perry Association.
This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
Hereford AppleFest Noise Hotline – 07487 516861
KICK OFF EVENTS
10.30-11.30 – MUSEUM OF CIDER HISTORY WALK – START AT BULL STATUE
12-4PM – APPLE CRAFTS – KIDS ACTIVITIES
12-5PM – HCA EXHIBITION – 1 & 7 GOMOND STREET
12-9PM – CATCHER MEDIA FILM – FILM TENT
12-9PM – OVER 50 CIDERS & PERRIES – CAMRA TENT
28/09-13/10 – HCA ONLINE AUDIO EXPERIENCE – SEE POSTERS
LIVE ON STAGE
LOVE2SING CHOIR
12PM
HEREFORD COLLEGE OF ARTS
12.40PM
LIVEWIRE ENCORE YOUTH
1.30PM
HEREFORD SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
2.20pm
WHISKEY RIVER
3.10PM
CHORAL DIVERSITY
4.10PM
NIGHTPORTERS
5PM
13 RIVERS
6PM
XL5
7PM
BLONDIED
8PM
FRINGE EVENTS
Come and discover how cider put Hereford on the world map. Elizabeth Pimblett, Director of the Museum of Cider, will take a free gentle walking tour of some key points in the city connected with the history of cider.
Apple Harvest Cider Tours including orchard walk; viewing apple pressing; cider tasting; ploughmans. Apple crafts – paint your own wooden apple for a decoration or coaster.
A German-themed beer festival featuring every official Oktoberfest beer, a wide selection of European and British beers, and our brilliant selection of ciders and perries.
Bromyard’s regular market takes on an apple theme for Apple Fest. Expect extra apple and cider stalls, cheese and cider pairing events, apple giveaways, and live folk music with an orchard theme. Bromyard Local History Society will be launching its food map and oral history podcast with Bromyard Market locating old and new food destinations.
Join a host of Herefordshire’s finest perry makers and experts in an exploration of this iconic drink! With four free talks planned throughout the day this is your chance to not only learn about everything that goes into making perry, from bud to bottle, but also an opportunity to taste your way through some of the finest bottles from our makers cellars. All talks are free with no booking required although the group size will be capped so please arrive early to secure your place! You must be over 18 to participate in the tastings.
In this unique collection of rural events you will be able to share in the tradition of apple growing and cidermaking – with open farms, cider mills and barns for you to visit. Enjoy the local orchards, famous for their cider fruit and excellent eating apples.
For more information go to: Museum of Cider – Hereford (cidermuseum.co.uk)
Guests are invited to celebrate the 2024 harvest with Martin Carter’s unique, pome fruit-infused menu, with local ingredients, each of the dishes matched with ciders and perries from some of the region’s leading producers.
Visit the annual apple fair in Leominster where there will be apple displays, apple identification and the opportunity to try and/or buy plenty of different varieties of local apples. Also as part of the event there will be stalls selling local crafts and cafe with local home made food and cake. Entrance £1.50 Children free. For more information and to find out more about local apple and pear events visit www.marcherapple.net
