Hendersonville's 80th Annual Apple Festival

A guided walkthrough of the North Carolina's top apple-producing county

Crowds fill downtown as vendors and visitors gather in the rolling hills of Appalachia | Hendersonville Apple Festival | September 5, 2026

Ashley Reep (WNN)

Posted Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:18 pm

By: Ashley Reep - Wise News Network

Hendersonville, NC (WNN) - Though this late summer still brings the heat, downtown Hendersonville celebrated its 80th annual Apple Festival over Labor Day weekend, September 4–7, 2026.

The Sights and Sounds of the Apple Festival

WNN reporter Ashley Reep attended the festival on Saturday, September 5, and was shocked by the size of the crowd that gathered in this small town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains just south of Asheville, NC. The city is bustling with life from Caswell Street to 6th Avenue for the weekend-long event.

As you stroll through downtown, vendors line the streets with apples from local family farms. You could find specialties such as apple cinnamon doughnuts. Apple cider slushies offered a refreshing cold treat in the summer heat. Fresh apple slices were ready to be served and dipped in homemade caramel.

A bag of apples supplied by a local vendor | Hendersonville Apple Festival | September 5, 2026

Ashley Reep (WNN)

The event is home to more than just apples. Tables and tents are filled with photo prints showcasing the rolling hills of Western North Carolina, handcrafted archery bows, pottery, and other crafts. Each vendor added another unique sight to the walk-through of the festival, with visitors stopping to browse, shop, and talk with vendors along the way.

As you continue through the crowd, people pass by carrying bags filled with apples and festival finds. Dogs of all shapes and sizes walk alongside their owners, and the laughter of children can be heard as they play with their new toys. Others wander between vendor tents to shop downtown, including a crowd favorite, the Mast General Store, which has been located at 527 N. Main St. in Hendersonville since 1883. However, these vendors are not the only show this festival had in store for its attendees.

Further down the street, the sounds of an Elvis tribute drew a crowd, giving visitors another form of entertainment as they made their way through the festival. As the last day of the Apple Festival approaches, the town gathers for a final event. To close out the celebration on Labor Day, a parade is held to send the festivities off before the small town returns usual quiet self.