Why Are Apples Such a Big Deal in Warwick?

If you were anywhere near Warwick this past weekend, you probably noticed that apples are kind of a big deal around here.

Applefest takes over the Village of Warwick every October, filling downtown with food, crafts, music and, of course, plenty of apples. But the connection between Warwick and apples goes well beyond one festival.

Drive just a few minutes outside the village and you begin to see why.

The Warwick Valley is home to numerous orchards and farms, and fall apple picking has become one of the area’s seasonal traditions. Some local orchards have been operated by the same families for generations, growing apples and other produce on land overlooking the valley.

And apple season isn’t only about picking a bag of apples.

Around Warwick, it also means cider, cider donuts, farm markets, pumpkins, hayrides and those fall weekends when the roads seem to lead from one farm or orchard to another.

Applefest grew out of that connection. The festival began in 1989 and is now held on the first Sunday of October, bringing the celebration right into downtown Warwick.

So while Applefest may be over for another year, apple season certainly isn’t.

It’s one of those local traditions that helps make fall in Warwick feel unmistakably like fall in Warwick.

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