Southington Apple Harvest Festival A Beloved Local Tradition

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The largest and most beloved annual event in Southington will start this weekend and continue the following weekend.

With country fair season winding down in the state, the 56th annual "Southington Apple Harvest Festival" starts Friday, Oct. 3, and continues during the first weekend through Sunday, Oct. 5.

Then, the massive celebration that brings 100,000 guests to the Southington green area (75 Main St.), continues next weekend as well, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 10-12.

"This annual event is one of the largest and longest-running festivals in the Northeast and typically draws a crowd of over 100,000 people," wrote the Town of Southington.

Organized by the town-appointed Southington Apple Harvest Festival Committee, this event features six days (over two weekends) of carnival rides/games, live entertainment, arts/crafts shows, apple-theme competition, and enough food to crash anyone's diet.

And, of course, the event's much-desired apple fritters, which this year will be available for sale throughout the week in between the festival weekends.

The first weekend's highlights include:

• Friday, Oct. 3, Southington Apple Harvest Festival Grand Opening Ceremony — 5:30 p.m., Main Stage.

• Saturday, Oct. 4, Southington Apple Harvest Festival's "Fireworks Spectacular!" — 8:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 5, Southington Apple Harvest Festival Parade — 2 p.m., downtown, theme: "Autumn Fun for Everyone." Rain date: Oct. 12 (but the weather forecast is very optimistic.)

The hours for the festival are:

• First weekend: Friday, Oct. 3, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 5, noon to 7 p.m.

• Second weekend: Friday, Oct. 10, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday,y Oct. 12, noon to 5 p.m.

The festival committee maintains an updated Facebook page featuring the latest updates about the event, and it includes schedules, parking information, and other event news.

But, perhaps, the best aspect of the annual festival is the admission fee.

It's free.

For more information on the 2025 Southington Apple Harvest Festival, click on this link.