The Wachusett Mountain Apple Fest
Posted on October 21, 2007 - Filed Under Food, Reviews
TGH and I went to this today. It was a weekend of festivals for us, I guess. LOL. But it was another beautiful day and I was glad to get to spend some of it out in the sun.
The Festival itself was a bit of a disappointment for the price. There were a lot of crafters exhibiting and selling their wares here but it was not nearly as big as other similar fairs held in nearby towns, such as the Bolton Fair in Lancaster or the Spencer Fair, which actually have cheaper admission fees. There was a giant bouncer room but no real “rides” for the kids, other than the “Sky Ride.”
The Sky Ride was really just a ride on one of the ski lifts. You actually had to pay separately for this and, although it was fun because it was a first for both TGH and I, it was really overpriced and should have been included in the price of admission in my opinion.
There also was a rock climbing wall activity but that was also a separate charge and overpriced in my opinion. Again, the admission for the festival itself was high enough that I believe these things should have been covered.
Despite these negatives, we did have a good time, I just think we spent more than it was worth. The other thing that was weird was that there was only one place were “apple” goods were being sold as far as we could tell and these were actually right at the entrance to the ski area. There were apple pies, bags of apples for sale from a local orchard, and apple pies, jellies, etc.
They did do some things right. There were nonstop shuttle buses from the parking lots to the entrance which made life easier for many of us. And there were free shows like the Flying Irish Dance Troupe and the Chair City Cloggers. There was also free Irish music by Mac Talla Mor Celtic Roots band. The festival runs for two weekends - if we had gone last weekend, it would have been a German Oktoberfest theme with German music and dance shows. The other great thing that everyone seemed to like was the Birds of Prey Show by the Raptor Project and the Chainsaw Art Exhibition.
Okay, enough of the technical review and on to our experience!
We quickly and easily parked and found the shuttle bus (which was really a school bus so it was a school-shuttle bus or a scuttle-bus for short) to the fairgrounds. While sitting in and waiting for the shuttle bus to start shuttling, we happened to see many motorcyclists out on the road due to the nice weather. Unfortunately we also saw one female motorcylist ram right into the mini-van in front of her. Fortunately she had been slowing down so it wasn’t with as much force as it could have been but it was still kind of freaky to see. She must have overestimated the difference or the speed of the minivan ahead or just not been very focused. She hit the minivan and her bike tipped over and there was a loud collective gasp from the scuttle bus as all the people who were on the window seats on that side saw what had happened. She landed on her side but fortunately was only down a second or two. She got right back up, righted her bike and started pushing it off to the side of the road. The driver of the mini van must have felt the bump and realized what happened so they pulled over right away. Fortunately for us, our scuttle-bus driver saw it all happen as well and when we got to the fairground entrance a few minutes later, she alerted a fireman on duty who was able to radio down to get help but from what I saw, nobody had been hurt so that is good. 
Never a dull moment when TGH and I go out. LOL.
After shuttling on the handy school buses to the festival entrance, TGH and I wandered through the grounds to check out all the booths and listen to the music and catch some shows. I did buy two catnip filled mats for our kids at home (Toast and Jam loved these by the way). A lady who had made these was selling them at a reasonable price for a change - I usually see these being sold for much higher prices and I never buy them knowing I can make them myself (yeah, right - when do I ever make time to do that). But since these were reasonable I couldn’t resist. There were jewelry booths, carved wood booths, knitted hats, scarves, mittens, vests and of course many booths with fleece goods which seem to be so popular now. There were some paintings, some jams and jellies, homemade soaps, and wreaths. There were even some little funky objects that at first I couldn’t figure out what they were used for. They were brightly and colorfully painted but were shaped like the bottom of a rowboat with some hardware in odd places that really didn’t function. Then I saw a photo that the crafter put on the table - it showed the little contraption at the base of a tree trunk. Lo and behold - it was a little “fairy door” that you were supposed to put at the bottom of a tree trunk in your yard - so it was just a cute little decoration that was displayed in the photo with a little fairy doll sitting in front of it as if on her own front porch. It was very cute. Totally useless, but very cute. LOL.
I really enjoyed the Birds of Prey Show - I didn’t realize just how enormous a golden eagle was. Wow. All the other birds were really gorgeous and looked well taken care of too. Most had had injuries and were rescued and brought back to health.
After seeing all the booths that we wanted to look at, we got in line for the Sky Ride. TGH is terrified of heights. But I made him buy tickets for the Sky Ride because we’ve never done anything like that before. I guess the fact that he went on it with me was a testament of his love for me. This does not mean he wasn’t a real wimp while we were on it though. He closed his eyes the whole way down. He was calling out, “Oh, MommyDaddy!” And then he proceeded to tell me about an article he had read this morning about twin sisters who were 101 and both had lived to see this special birthday. His opinion was that the reason they lived so long is that they never let their feet leave the ground except to go to bed (read more about the twins here). LOL. He made me promise that we’d never do THAT again. So I guess he’ll be staying behind if I ever get the itch to do it again.
Here are some shots from the ski lift -
Here’s a shot of some snow-making equipment:
These next shots are from a state forest we drove near on the way home. The last one is very similar to one of my Rail Trail water pictures. I must have a “thing” for those water shots. LOL.
So, we spent too much money, but we had a good time and got to spend it together and outdoors and in the sun! I have been blessed with another beautiful day! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!
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12 Responses to “The Wachusett Mountain Apple Fest”
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Teeni-
Even if the apple festival was less than you’d hoped for, the views of the scenery with with water and the autumn leaves are magnificent! Thanks for sharing that blessing with a lowcountry gal who has green all year long. (What little “fall color” we get usually comes in December or January)
Oh my goodness - No way!!! Is this…could it be - one of Heather’s parents or family? I’m so honored to have you here at the Vaguetarian Tea Room. Heather is one of my favorite blogging buddies! Oh you just don’t know how you made my day!
I will definitely try to keep posting nice colorful shots for you as long as I can - I’m not a good photographer but every so often I get a good shot and the color comes through even if my shot isn’t that great. Oh, I’m so excited that you are here and that you commented!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Sorry it was overpriced, it is always so disappointing to find the extra “hidden charges” at events like that. Sneaky and rude, in my opinion!
But … what gorgeous scenery! It looks lovely and I really enjoy seeing pics of the trees in fall.
Hannah - I just feel bad spending TGH’s hard earned money because I don’t work any longer. But I guess if you consider that it gave us something to do outside with that scenery then THAT was worth it. I need to plan some free picnics and that kind of thing for TGH to do as well and then I won’t feel so bad.
For one…the colors are just gorgeous in your area. You guys are such party animals.
We went to an apple orchard recently but it was not a festival. It is a regular orchard open to the public. It has many rows of trees so that you can pick your own apples.
Yeup - there aint no moss on us old fogies! **does the superiority dance** LOL.
You had a fabulous adventure you party animal! I agree the colors are lovely. The last picture is my favorite.
I haven’t been on a sky ride in year. The first time I went was when I was at Hershey Park. I think I was about 14.
So I imagine skydiving is out, right? I used to go often but stopped. I’ll pick it up again when my daughter is a little older. The highest I’ve ever jumped was fourteen thousand feet. Truly lovely. It was a different way to view our beautiful world.
Yeah, I doubt I could get TGH off the ground again unless it was in an airplane. Now - those I’m scared of. LOL. I LOVED Hershey Park! TGH and I went there a couple of years ago. He brings me to the best places!
Beautiful!!! I am glad you had a good time. Sometimes spending too much money is a good thing! LOL
Good point, Calamity! I like that way of looking at it!
Oh, it looks -so- beautiful!! I’m so sad that I missed this… Even if the official activities were a bit lacking, the atmosphere alone would make the event worth the effort.
Another event I think you would have liked Hannah. I really had a good time, I just had to point out the negative things also to be fair and give an honest review.
Too bad there weren’t more “apple” things, since that was the title of the festival, but the pics from the ski lift are incredible!
Yeah, that was the really funny part about it, Paige. I was like, “so where are the apples?” LOL. But I guess there’s got to be more than apples going on to make it a “festival.”
Those are some fantastic shots Teeni. Great camera skills gir
It’s sure good to be home though.
I was marking exams all weekend which, considering I am a geeky accountant, was kinda fun
We missed you!!!!!!!! Glad you are back. But at least the work broke up the boring stuff for you!
“The Sky Ride was really just a ride on one of the ski lifts”
I would love to do that haha! Great pictures teeni…you make me jealous though ;).rock climbing? I have never done that in my life…scared to though I have told myself I will before i die :P.
If you want it bad enough, you’ll do it! Keep up the positive attitude.
// So I imagine skydiving is out, right? I used to go often but stopped.//
wait i must ask opal! Is that fun to do? I have always wanted to try it.
Gorgeous photos Teeni! I love the trees colours this time of year; looks like you had fabulous weather!
Oh yes, we were very fortunate Merri! The weekend had glorious weather!
I was a huge fan of the festival and I think you missed the point that while it was applefest, one weekend was oktoberfest and one was celticfest. We spent way too much money too but it was to be expected at a crafter’s market, those things always nickel and dime you but i thought the festival was fair and we got what we came for– good food, good music, and a great time!
Hi Mandakate and welcome to the Vaguetarian Tea Room. I guess we will have to agree to disagree about the apple festival. I don’t believe I missed the point because I did make mention of it being a celticfest and that the previous weekend was an oktoberfest. (I thought the real point was the APPLE fest, though, LOL). And I DID have a good time, as I mentioned - I was just trying to be fair in comparing it with other fairs I’ve been to. The other fairs were larger and had a less expensive entrance fee. So I think I was fair in my review. I’m glad you had a good time there as well though - hard not to with the great weather we had on that glorious October weekend!
I did have some good things to say about the festival and I wonder if you didn’t read the whole article I posted, I know sometimes it is hard to see that “continued” link. It seems we agreed we both spent way too much money - but we both ended up having a good time so that is what counts! Drop in any time Mandakate and feel free to join in whenever you like - you never know what will be going on here.