Grand Marais celebrates 4th annual apple festival Oct. 22 and 23

Fall is an exciting time for fun festivities and outdoor activities along the North Shore. In addition to pumpkin carving and placing scarecrows in haybales along Highway 61, the fall season is traditionally a time for individuals to harvest and celebrate apples.

The upcoming 4th annual apple festival in Grand Marais will take place on Oct. 22 and 23. The two-day event will host multiple activities for participants to enjoy, including apple picking, apple cider pressing, live music, and plenty of delicious baked apple goods. 

Participants are welcome to visit and harvest apples at one of the three available apple orchards, Ray Block’s, Stan Bautch’s, and the Grand Marais Community Orchard. In addition, the Cook County Community Center will host apple festival activities and live music throughout the day. 

The Grand Marais apple festival was started in 2019 by founder Carolyn Dry. Dry considered the first year a success, with nearly 400 participants attending the apple festival. She hopes this year will see a similar turnout. 

Each year, Dry has expanded activities for the festival. New this year is an apple pie baking contest, live music, and learning the art of apple pressing at North House Folk School. 

Dry said she is excited about the new activities. “There are a lot of new things this year.” She said her favorite part about the festival each year is “selling the apple pies. It’s really fun to see people come in.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Dry about the history and the fun activities at the upcoming 4th annual Grand Marais apple festival. Audio from the interview is below. Click here for details about the festival.

Kalli Hawkins October 17, 2022