Apple Affair: Always the first Saturday in October!

26th Annual event is October 4, 2008!      Galesville’s Apple Affair has become a major Trempealeau County event. Begun in 1983 as part of Wisconsin’s effort to promote the state’s apple orchards, Apple Affair draws people, including families, from throughout the region.
     Held on the square in downtown Galesville the first Saturday in October, Apple Affair is a one-day event which begins with breakfast served in the big tent.
     The omelets are cooked in one of the biggest skillets you’ll ever see! The Galesville Republican reported after the first Apple Affair that the skillet was 54 inches wide and 8 inches deep.
     It took 1,250 eggs, 30 pounds of ham, 10 cups of onions, 9 pounds of butter, 630 squares of apple coffee cake (you were expecting something else?), 22 gallons of apple juice, 21 loaves of bread and 1,200 cups of coffee to feed the 630 people who attended that first event. Since then, attendance numbers in the thousands.
     As the day wears on, the aroma wafting from the square changes to the smell of bratwurst cooking on the outdoor grill. In another big tent, Galesville’s famous 10-foot apple pie tempts the taste buds as it bakes under the watchful eyes of volunteers.
     Orchards from the area set up stands on the square where visitors can purchase apples and apple treats served up by growers. Apple pie, apple slices, caramel apples, Queen's Apple, apple cider, apple juice — if it’s apple, you’ll find it here.
     In the parking lot across from the square, arts and crafts booths attract shoppers. Everything from dollhouse miniatures to crocheted doilies is displayed on tables ringing the lot.
     Throughout the day, music from the big tent permeates the air. Provided by area bands, the music is enjoyed by young and old alike.
     Bike tours are a popular event on the Apple Affair roster. Hundreds of bicyclists spend most of the day touring Galesville’s apple orchards on their bicycles. The scenery in this “Garden of Eden” is spectacular and the event is a perfect family affair. Register early to save money or you can register at Apple Affair.
     The first Apple Affair attracted 42 bicyclists who rode the 28.7 mile loop from downtown Galesville through the orchards. The bike tours grew so popular that some years, depending on the weather, more than 700 bicyclists participate.
     The most popular tour is the 20 mile orchard tour. Families like this tour because its relatively flat terrain makes it manageable for even young riders. The more challenging routes range in distance from 35 to 60 miles and include steep hills and rolling roads.
     Also added to the list of activities that day are tours of the historic Eastside Farm. Buses leave the downtown area regularly to take tour groups to the homestead.
     Buttons for Apple Affair are on sale the month before in businesses all over Galesville. For a dollar, you get a souvenir button and the right to attend one of Trempealeau County’s premiere family events. Buttons are also on sale at Apple Affair. They are required for most activities.

HOME

Webmaster