New Offerings at 2026 Southington Apple Harvest Festival
Each year, the committee overseeing the Southington Apple Harvest Festival aims to bring new ideas and attractions to the table.
Now in its 57th year, the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the state. Festival coordinator AJ Colwick says festival-goers can expect to see new and exciting performances as well as activities for the whole family.
“One of the big things is that I want to do more interactive activities,” said Colwick. “This year we're going to be having SoLA Karaoke come. People will be able to go up, pick a song, and do karaoke.”
The karaoke performances will be held on October 3 and 10 on the main stage.
Other activities include free children’s entertainment provided by the Goddard School of Cheshire on October 3 in the lot behind the main stage.
Michael Jackson impersonator Joby Rogers will be on the main stage on October 3 at 6:45pm.
While the usual food options, such as apple fritters, will be available, there will also be new culinary offerings. Wood-n-Tap, a first-time vendor, will have burger sliders and grilled cheese on the menu.
A tricycle race sponsored by United Way will be held on October 3 at 11:00am. However, this race is not for children.
“That's actually going to be for adults. So that's the fun part. It’s teams of four that are going to race and compete, and it all goes for a good cause,” said Colwick.
Other attractions and vendors will be offered again after finding success at past festivals. These include the usual carnival rides and snacks, along with Bradley Mountain Farm’s “Fairy Goatmother Playdates.”
The goat mother playdates, which run during both weekends, allow visitors to get in the pen with the goat herd. Baby and adult goats will be ready to perform tricks and get treats from passersby.
The annual firework display will be held on October 3, starting at 8:30 pm, and will be visible from all the fairgrounds.
On the same day, at 11:30am, an apple fritter eating contest will challenge participants to eat as many fritters as possible. The next day, an apple pie eating contest will be held at 12:30pm.
If the food does not interest guests, the athletic opportunities may. Five-mile and 5k races will be held on October 4, alongside a two-mile walk, a one-mile race and a fun run for children.
While he is excited to see visitors engage with all the attractions, Colwick is especially proud of the planning that has gone into the parade on October 4, which will feature former town councilor Victoria Triano as Grand Marshall.
“One of the big things that I'm proud of is our theme this year: 250 years of Harvesting American pride. It definitely goes along with 250 years of the United States of America,” said Colwick.
Parade viewers can expect plenty of patriotic decorations during the parade and festival, which is especially fitting given that Triano has been the chairwoman of Southington’s America250 Committee.
“It will be a lot of white, red and blue,” said Colwick. “You'll still see your normal harvest and apple stuff like that, but with extra red, white and blue.”
