Families wanting to celebrate autumn’s arrival can raise a toast — suitable for all ages — today and Sunday at Lakewood Cider Days.
The two-day festival is devoted to all things apple.
Now in its 34th season, the annual event honors Lakewood’s agricultural history.
“During the 19th and early 20th century, there were over 40 apple orchards in this area,” says Greg Lovell with the Lakewood Heritage Center, where the festival is held.
The orchards are gone but at this event, apples still make a strong showing. Look for an apple pie bake-off, apple- themed games and stations for pressing your own cider.
The apple presses are part of the Lakewood Heritage Center’s antiques collection. Dating from the late 1800s, three types of presses will be available during the festival, all still in great working condition after more than a century.
“These are heavy duty, cast iron pieces of machinery,” Lovell says. “You can press a bushel of apples in three to five minutes.”
One bushel of apples (42 pounds) will yield about a gallon of fresh pressed cider; plenty of fresh fruit will be available.
Ela Family Farms will have a farm stand selling apples, cider, applesauce and more.
“We’ve been growing fruit in Colorado for over 100 years,” says Jeni Nagle, sales and marketing director for the farm, which is located on the Western Slope near Hotchkiss. Nagle recommends a blend of tart and sweet apples to create the perfect cider.
“Colorado’s famous Jonathan apples are essential to cider,” she says. “They have a great acidity that gives cider a nice tart finish.”
To enhance the cider’s sweetness, Nagle suggests adding such sweeter varieties as Jonagold or Gala apples.
The apple theme extends beyond the festival grounds as confident home cooks can enter in two competitive categories. One is exclusively for the best apple pie, and the other includes “Everything Else Apple.” Competitors can bring their creations to the festival and register on-site; celebrity judges will taste test and declare the winners for each day.
The festival offers plenty of other distractions. An ongoing antique tractor pull includes over 400 entries, and a tractor-drawn barrel train will keep tots entertained. Cooking demonstrations will take place in the Heritage Center’s 1930s- era farmhouse, and activities such as face painting, hay rides, a climbing wall, a petting zoo and the like are included in the admission price.”Your kids can ride and play all day,” Lovell says.
Lakewood Cider Days
When: Today and Sunday
Where: Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., 303-987-7850
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $3 for kids ages 3-12, $6 for adults
