Cider Fest Draws Largest Crowd Yet

Sunday marked the fourth year of Amherst's Cider Festival at Lindabury Orchard and a big milestone for the event.

This was the first year the event was completely sustained on apples from the volunteer-run orchard, according to Friends of the Orchard President Randy Chapman. 

Lindabury Orchard was owned for years by Jack Lindabury, however, when he died in 2001, a deal was struck for the Amherst Land Trust to purchase the land and preserve it.

Over the last 10 years, the 50-acre property, with 10 acres of trees has been maintained by a small but mighty corps of volunteers, Chapman said. A group he's constantly amazed by.

"We have 30 volunteers who come trim trees – get poison ivy – do stuff that no one really wants to do," Chapman said.

Leading up to Cider Festival, Chapman said he organized a clean up day and 28 people turned out to help. It is an inclusive group, he said, and anyone who wants to help preserve this town treasure is welcome.

Chapman said as the years go by, they find themselves with more and more trees producing apples. This event helps them cover the costs associated with maintenance and improvements made to the orchard.

On Sunday, Chapman said around 4 p.m., about an hour before Cider Fest ended, that they'd estimated about 800 people had visited to pick apples and press them into their own jugs of cider to take home. 

Four years of Cider Fest and four years of beautiful weather has certainly buoyed the event, but Chapman said this was definitely the largest turnout yet.

In addition to apple picking and cider pressing, there were pumpkins and apples for sale, face painting, pumpkin painting, hayrides and food and drink for sale and music performed by Robert Allwarden.

Related: Check out a photo gallery from the event.