CHIMACUM — World Apple Day, a celebration of local fruit and flavor, comes to the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend, bringing free orchard walks, games for children and their folks, live music, dancing and old-fashioned apple-pressing demonstrations.
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, that fruit-rich expanse at 62 Barn Swallow Road, is hosting this outdoor party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and admission is free. Guests may want to bring cash, though, as abundant food and drink, from the Dented Buoy’s wood-fired pizza to the Fireside Grill’s baked-apple desserts, will be sold on site.
‘Chai-der’
Apple juices and hot apple “chai-der,” a special blend of Dragonfly Chai and apple juice, also will flow, as will hard-cider sampling in the Finnriver tasting room.
Guests also are invited to bring their mystery apples for “apple ambassadors” Lori Brakken and Drew Zimmerman to identify. Apple ID and tasting will go on all day, naturally.
On Saturday evening, Finnriver will host another event, this time for adults only: a cocktail party featuring “Taste, Temptation & Spells,” a performance exploring the myth, magic and mystery of the apple.
In this gathering, storyteller Brian Rohr of Port Townsend will offer fairy tales, folk tales and myth in Finnriver’s outdoor pavilion.
Admission to the gathering from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is $12.50, including cider cocktails and apple treats.
“Our goal is to create a great community event that celebrates the season of autumn, our local agricultural heritage and our regional apple abundance,” said Finnriver co-owner Crystie Kisler.
Schedule
Here’s the schedule of Saturday’s World Apple Day activities:
■ 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Old-fashioned apple-pressing demonstrations, apple art projects, games, apple identification and tastings; live music by Blue Sol and guests.
■ 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. — Traditional English country dancing with the Sound and Fury dancers.
■ 1:15 p.m. — Sing-along with the PT Songlines Choir.
■ 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. — Brown Farm Antique Apple Orchard tours.
More information about the events and the farm can be found at www.Finnriver.com and 360-732-6822.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.