Apple Harvest Festival Organizer Plans New Attractions [updated]

Apple Harvest Festival 2024 CT DRONE SOURCE PHOTO

This article was updated on October 2 to include more events as well as a full schedule of events and entertainments.

Apple Harvest organizer Melissa Cocuzza, who has been involved with the festival in one way or another since 1993 when she first marched in the parade, knows that visitors come expecting certain attractions: food booths, fireworks, rides, music, arts and crafts merchants, the parade, the road race, and, of course, Zion Lutheran Church’s famous apple fritters.

But from her point of view, those just represent a starting point: “You have to bring people what they want, but you also have to bring them things they weren’t expecting, that will bring them joy.”

This year’s festival will be held on the weekends of October 3-5 and 10–12.

It will feature several novel events and performances.

At the top of Melissa’s list of innovations is an obstacle challenge created by the Plainville-based Grit ‘N Wit. Part obstacle course, part trivia challenge, it requires participants to surmount physical obstacles and think on their feet to succeed. “What I love about it,” she says, “is that people can get active and have fun either with friends or family or a group of participants they may not have known.” The Grit ‘N Wit challenge will be open all day on Saturday, October 4^th, and Sunday October 5^th. Sneakers and active-wear are recommended.

The second new feature are “Apple Hats” – knit caps, each with a short brown stem and green leaf on the top, available in baby, youth, and adult sizes. These will be available for purchase at the information booth. Since there are only 500 caps for 100,000+ visitors, they are expected to sell out quickly.

One of the new acts Melissa is most excited about is ‘Guitaro 5000’. That is the stage name of Reggie Guillaume, a NYC-based street musician who invites random passersby to sing with him a song of their choice, and learns the song on the spot if he does not happen to know it. His performances derive much of their charm from the spontaneous bravery of the people who come up to sing with him. “We looking for kids, we’re looking for grandparents who may not have sung in front of family or friends before,” she says. To view a sample of his more famous encounters she recommends checking out his Youtube channel, which has more than 1.6 million followers. He will be performing at the festival just one day, October 4^th, from 11–6, with a raindate on the 5^th.

The fourth act people should be on the look-out for is a blacksmith and forging artist named Dyami Kelly-Clark. Dyami, who hails from Shelton, CT, will be giving demonstrations of the metallic arts before a live forge every two hours throughout the festival.

Fifth on Melissa’s list is Elevate, a healthcare tent sponsored by Hartford Healthcare where visitors can receive free screenings for conditions that may have gone overlooked. The tent will be open October 4^th and 5^th.

Next, for its grand finale the Festival will be sponsoring a dance party on Sunday 12^th with a DJ Greg Allen. While open to anyone, the party was specifically designed to give the festival’s many hard-working volunteers a chance to celebrate as the proceedings wrap up.

Melissa also wants to draw attention to several new musical acts, starting with Studio Two, an early Beatles tribute band. “They dress in clothing of the time-period, have a few costume changes, and use instruments that the Beatles used. It will have all the flavor and the campiness of the time.” They will be performing on the main stage Saturday, October 11^th, from 6:30 to 9:00.

Two rising country artists, Erin Gibney and Charley T, will also be taking to the stage from 7:00 to 8:00 on Saturday, October 4^th, and 7:30 to 8:30, Friday, October 10^th. “What makes Erin and Charley interesting is that both competed in the Apple Harvest Festival when they were ten years old. Now after growing up and getting traction in the business they are coming back as established artists.”

Some late additions to the roster of acts include Mixed Company, a Yale a capella group, which will be singing for the crowd on the main stage on October 10th at 5:15, as well as three dance acts which will be performing early Saturday afternoon on the 11th. Dance City & the Arts will take the stage at noon to show off the variety of styles taught at the school; Shamrock School of Irish Dance will take over at 1pm to perform Irish dance; and The LAB will come out at 3pm to showcase their modern dance routines, which include audience interaction.

One thing that will be relatively unchanged are the Festival’s parking options. Visitors who want to avoid the competition for spots downtown should park at Southington High School and take the shuttle bus to the festival, which runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays only. For more details and scheduling information see the official Festival page.

This article has been modified to correct the dates of the festival, to remove a canceled event, and to clarify details regarding the healthcare tent.