The anticipation is building! Eeek!! I love this time of year and look forward to Bayfield’s biggest event – The Bayfield Apple Festival.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the delicious food found during “Wisconsin’s Best Festival,” gets me excited every time.

I love walking with Isaac and the boys into town from Seagull Bay along the Brownstone Trail. The first thing that grabs my attention is the crisp clean air. The fall colors are starting to pop and nature’s color wheel showcases hues of yellows, oranges, and reds. The perfect backdrop against the blue waters of Lake Superior fills my soul every time.

This view never gets old.

As we get closer to town we start to hear live music. And it immediately adds an extra bounce to my steps. The boys feel the excitement too as they start giggling in excitement.

Then there’s the tantalizing smell of the food. Whether it’s authentic Bayfield fare or festival food you’re after – there’s something to make you say yum.

• So how do you make the most of this festival?
• Want to have an authentic Bayfield Apple Festival experience?
• Or where should you focus your attention when you’re here?

Because let’s face it there’s only so much you can do and see in one weekend. Let us help you create an itinerary that’ll leave you with a memorable apple festival experience. And that you’ll make sure you book a room for next year (yes, rooms for the apple festival start booking a year in advance).

Bayfield Apple Festival Schedule of Events

This year apple festival falls on October 7th, 8th, and 9th. We’ve linked the full schedule of events below under quick links. But we want to give you some highlights to make the most of your time when visiting on this busy weekend.

Friday, October 7th, 2002

• Arrive early and visit the craft and food vendors.
• Skip the crowds and get your hands on the best hand-crafted art – pottery, jewelry, and other specialty items – before they’re sold out.

Saturday, October 8th, 2022

• Eat the best fish in town and support the Bayfield Volunteer Fire Department at their highly anticipated annual fish fry.
• Drive up to the apple orchards for a day filled with apple picking.
• In the evening watch the apple king procession with the Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay.

Sunday, October 9th, 2022

• Find the perfect spot along Rittenhouse Avenue.
• Savor apple treats as you watch the Grand Parade Finale.

These highlights give you the best of what Bayfield can offer – all neatly packed in a weekend getaway.

Bayfield Apple Orchards You Need to Visit

A couple of weeks ago we shared how a flat tire led to the creation of the Apple Festival back in 1962. We also highlighted the orchards you should visit to find the best doughnuts, cider, jams, pies, and other goodies. You can read all about it here. But we have a few other suggestions on how to make the most of your orchard experience.

You’ll find most orchards surrounding the Bayfield Fruit Loop – a short 5-minute drive from Seagull Bay.

First things first, grab a bag and venture out into the orchards and pick a bag of apples to bring home with you. The orchards are filled with over 30 varieties of apples from tart to sweet. Apples perfect for snacking or baking a pie.

Imagine walking down a row of trees waving their branches in the cool breeze. Kids playing tag in the tall grass. And sounds of laughter and happy conversations of others picking apples around you.

Once your bag or bags are full, browse the orchard’s gift shops. Look for other tasty souvenirs like apple butter, cider, and pies to take home with you.

Many of the orchards have special activities and vendors onsite during the Bayfield Apple Festival. Plan to spend the afternoon delighting in all they have to offer – hay rides, live music, tastings and more.

Craft Food and Vendors at the Bayfield Apple Festival

When you’re not picking apples, wander the streets searching for the perfect gift or a tasty treat.

During the apple festival, Bayfield’s streets are lined with food and craft vendors. Here you’ll find artists showcasing handmade jewelry, custom pottery, stunning Lake Superior photography, and more.

Food vendors tease you with delicious smells wafting through the air. Whether you’re looking for local fare such as:

• Mouth-watering caramel apples
• Lake Superior fish tacos
• Blackened whitefish
• Or famed apple brats

There is truly something for everyone. You’ll also find festival classics such as authentic greek gyros, foot-long corndogs, or Wisconsin cheese curds (squeakier the better).

A few words of advice when visiting the downtown vendors. Bayfield is a town of 500 that explodes up to 50,000 during this weekend. Needless to say, the town can get crowded. Here are some tips to make the most of your visit to the apple festival:

• Visit vendors before noon or in the late afternoon once the crowd dies down
• Do NOT bring your pets. It’s too crowded and your pets will be more comfortable at home.
• If possible forgo the stroller and carry young children in a front pack or backpack
• Take your time and don’t try to see everything at once or under a time crunch

And our favorite – give yourself time to listen to the sounds of Bayfield.

Live Music at the Bayfield Apple Festival

One of the things that bring the apple festival to life is the music heard while walking around town. I love hearing the familiar toons from the classic Big Top Chautauqua show Riding the Wind performed by the Blue Canvas Orchestra at the grandstand. Or rest your legs in Memorial Park and listen to Concerts by the Lake while you sit down to eat the goodies you’ve found.

The Lords of Baltimore help kick off the festival at the historic Morty’s Pub in downtown Bayfield on Friday, October 7th starting at 8 pm. This local favorite is a fantastic way to rock you into the weekend.

Bayfield Apple Festival Souvenirs You Need to Take Home With You

If you’ve visited the apple festival before I’m sure you have your go-to places to visit, foods to eat, and special gifts to buy. But a couple of collector items that may spark your interest are:

• Eckels Pottery Studio’s collector Apple Festival mugs
• 2022 Apple Festival Button or Poster
• Apple pie, apple cider, apple butter, apples, apples, apples…

And anything else that’ll bring back the memories made during your weekend at this year’s Bayfield Apple Festival.

Plan Ahead and Stay at Seagull Bay During the Bayfield Apple Festival

Seagull Bay is unmatched when it comes to location during the festival. It sits on the edge of town. So you get easy access in and out of town by car without having to spend time looking or paying for parking.

The Brownstone Trail offers easy and direct walking access into town. You can literally walk out your motel door and in 10 minutes be in the heart of the apple festival.

Our location also offers a bit of calm when looking to take a break from the crowds. You can also easily drive up to the orchards without navigating detours (or people).

The apple festival is a family-friendly event or a great place to experience with a group of friends. Our motel and adjacent properties have lodging that fits groups of any size including family ensuites with kitchen facilities, and shared or private deck spaces.

Are you ready to visit what USA Today called one of the “10 Best Fall Festivals?” Come and spend the weekend in Bayfield and plan ahead for next year to stay with us.

Looking to skip the crowds, but still want to experience Bayfield in the Fall and the apple orchards? Apple picking starts Mid-September and goes through Mid-October. You can still enjoy all the delicious food, visit local shops, and eat regional favorites without the crowds.

Visit us on an alternate weekend or mid-week for an authentic Bayfield vacation at a slower pace. BOOK NOW to reserve dates that work best for you.

Happy Apple Fest!

Mollie, Isaac, Axel, Ridge, and Banks

QUICK LINKS:

Bayfield Apple Festival – Bayfield