When it started nine years ago, the Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival was about bringing together a community around a common goal and a common heritage.
Today, that spirit lives on as the festival continues to grow.
This year, there will be even more opportunities to celebrate the rural lifestyle, said Cathy Murphy, president of the Onalaska Alliance, the nonprofit that sponsors the annual festival.
The ninth annual Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival takes place Oct. 5-8 in Onalaska, with the bulk of the activities focused on the weekend of Oct. 7-8. Murphy said for the last few years the Alliance board has been taking a close look at all aspects of the festival and determining what they believe is the direction that will give it the most longevity.
In this Oct. 3, 2015, file photo, members of the Alpha Better Bets 4-H Club ride a float during the parade at the seventh annual Apple Harvest Festival in Onalaska.
Justyna Tomtas / jtomtas@chronline.com
One goal for the festival weekend was to create activities that appeal to locals while drawing visitors, especially since some of the Onalaska Alliance’s funding comes from Lewis County’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The Alliance has created a mixture of activities that span from Thursday through Sunday with the bulk of activities happening on Saturday.
Much of Saturday’s festivities, from the parade and local music to a food court and farmers market, take place along Carlisle Avenue in the heart of Onalaska. Much of the remainder of Saturday’s events, including a fun run and kayak and canoe races, take place at Carlisle Lake.
But historically, Sunday of Apple Harvest Festival weekend has only included an all-church service, which was only a draw for locals, Murphy said. Alliance members wanted to create a Sunday draw for visitors that might entice them to spend the night.
Source:chronline.com
Source:chronline.com
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