Harvest Festivals have been celebrated for centuries and at the Historic Village at Allaire we carry on the tradition with our Fall Harvest Festival. Although James Allaire owned several farms, growing a variety of produce to feed the employees at the Howell Works, we at the Historic Village chose to celebrate the Apple Harvest.

Apples were a staple commodity during the 19th Century because of their ability to keep for a long time and the multitude of methods used to preserve them. Apples were often wrapped in burlap and buried in the ground or stored in root cellars to provide a source of fresh fruit for the winter. Apples were also pickled, made into butters, jams and jellies, stored in jars of alcohol and even dried artificially in bake ovens. Apples were also used in a whole host of recipes for cooking including apple pie, apple sauce and apple brown betty. Join the Villagers as they reap the fruits of their labor and bring in the apple harvest. There will be apple games for the children to play such as bobbing for apples, snap apple and apple toss.

There will be a puppet show in the Carriage House and the Historic Village Music Guild will perform a special musical presentation for the enjoyment of visitors. On the lawn of the Manager's House visitors will see demonstrations in cider pressing and learn how apple cider was made in the 1830s. In the kitchen of the Managers House visitors will encounter historic interpreters preparing pies and foods on the open hearth using authentic 19th Century receipts. No Harvest Festival would be complete without a Harvest Sermon and the Rev. Tanser has prepared a special sermon which he will deliver at the Village Chapel. Of course no Fall Harvest Festival in the Historic Village at Allaire would be complete without a visit to the Howell Works Bakery for a cup of hot mulled cider and a slice of apple cake. While there you can see demonstrations in brick oven baking and learn how apples and other fruits were dried to preserve them for the long winter months ahead.

Visitors are invited to view the autumn foliage as they travel by Horse and Wagon ride through the picturesque woods and into the Historic Village where their ride will end at the General Store in the heart of the Village. This will be a great day of fun for the entire family. Plan to spend the afternoon and take pleasure in the pristine park setting while enjoying the interpretive program at the Historic Village at Allaire. Due to the popularity of our events, all ticket sales are final.