7 Apple Festivals in Connecticut You Have to Try This Fall (2026)
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When the fall air rolls around here in Connecticut, there’s nothing better than biting into a sweet (or tart!), crunchy apple.
But maybe you prefer apples in other forms. Sweet apple cider, hot mulled cider, hard cider, apple cider donuts, apple pie, apple fritters, caramel apples, apple crisp.
At Connecticut’s apple festivals, the list of apple concoctions and autumn treats is endless.
While there are plenty of general harvest or fall festivals around the state, where can you find celebrations dedicated solely to this delicious fruit?
We’ve scoured high and low to pull together a comprehensive list of apple festivals in CT. While we haven’t had the chance to attend all of these yet, they’re on our Connecticut fall bucket list! Several of these are smaller events, while a couple of them are very large.
Check them all out below!
Monroe Apple Festival
The St. Peter’s Apple Festival in Monroe happens the weekend after Labor Day every September. Sponsored by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, it takes place on the charming and historic Monroe town green.
This smaller festival is the earliest of the bunch and brings those small-town Gilmore Girls vibes you might be looking for as fall rolls in.
You’ll find 100+ craft vendors, a fall mum sale, live music, a food tent, and all things apples—apple cider, caramel apples, hot apple crisp a la mode, baked apple goods, and more. You can also buy fresh apples at Apple Central.
Best of all, this festival has free admission and free parking.
Dates: September 12th – 13th, 2026
South Britain Apple Festival
The South Britain Congregational Church Apple Festival is another small-town festival hosted by a local church on the town green.
They have games, craft vendors, kids activities, lunch and snacks, live music, and some apparently famous apple pies made by church members. There’s also a charming photo spot if you want to snap some seasonal family photos. This festival also has free parking and free admission.
Date: September 26, 2026
West Haven Apple Festival
In classic Connecticut fashion, here’s one more annual apple festival held on the historic town green—this time in West Haven. Hosted by the First Congregational Church of West Haven, this event takes place over three days each September.
The West Haven Apple Festival features live entertainment, such as dance, martial arts, and music performances. They also have craft vendors, food, and bounce houses for kids.
Dates: September 25th – 27th, 2026
South Windsor Apple Festival
This festival is hosted at the local fairgrounds in South Windsor. From apple-themed contests to food trucks to live performances to (of course) apple pie, they have a lot packed into a single day. They also have lots of vendors as well as attractions like pony rides, a dunk tank, bounce house, and live music.
It is held rain or shine. This festival also has free parking and free admission.
Date: October 3, 2026
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Southington Apple Harvest Festival
This is not your average Connecticut town green celebration. The Southington Apple Harvest Festival has been around for more than 50 years and today draws about 100,000 people over the course of two weekends.
With dozens of art vendors, tons of food, a ferris wheel, kids’ carnival rides, a ferris wheel, face painting, a parade, and fireworks, the Southington celebration is really a country fair meets apple festival.
There are two stages with live musical performances, and next to one is the area where you can find hard cider, beer, wine, an apple cider margarita, and non-alcoholic apple cider (cold and hot). One of my favorite finds as I was strolling around was a lively drum circle.
The second weekend will include an arts and crafts show.
If you visit this festival, plan for lots of crowds. I saw parents managing with strollers, but I imagine that corralling toddlers would be a challenge.
The apple fritter line wraps around the block toward the church, and I’d guess it’s at least an hour long.
I got a great tip from someone to avoid the apple fritter line: head to the pumpkin spice fritter booth for virtually no line and freshly fried pumpkin fritters dipped in sugar and a hint of salt. Let me tell you, these were divine.
But if you’re just here for the apple treats and want to avoid the long line, you could try the apple crisp booth, or the apple cider fried dough or apple cider donuts at the far back corner.
The Southington festival has a free shuttle bus from the high school on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s no on-street parking in downtown Southington during the festival, and they have a lot of roads blocked at different times for the parade and fireworks. I recommend checking out their website for specifics and any last-minute weather updates.
Dates: October 2nd – 4th and October 9th – 11th, 2026
Glastonbury Apple Harvest and Music Festival
Another large apple festival is the one that takes place every year in Glastonbury. This busy event has amusement rides, 50+ music performances, kid-friendly entertainment, tons of fair foods, food trucks, a Harvest Pub, and a 5K road race. It takes place over the course of a weekend in October.
There’s free parking at the high school with a free shuttle bus to the grounds, but the festival itself has a general admission charge. Note that rides also cost money, but in the past they have offered unlimited ride wristbands in the evenings (check 2025 details as it gets closer).
Dates: October 16th – 18th, 2026
Mystic Apple Festival
Started in 2022, the Mystic Apple Festival in Olde Mystick Village is returning for a fifth year. On both days from 11 AM – 6 PM, the festival will have live music, children’s activities, and more than 40 vendors.
Come and enjoy all things apples and fall with your family—they’ll have seasonal foods from pumpkin to maple to all things apples! Plus, the festival will have fun activities for the whole family.
Dates: October 17th – 18th, 2026