By Shareen Strauss
SNN Correspondent
If the many cars parked throughout the town of McCloud were an indication, the Apple Harvest Festival was a huge success. The McCloud Chamber of Commerce hosted this event that was started by then McCloud resident, Carol Zacher, about 6 years ago.
Other than the lack of free apples up and down Main Street for people to enjoy because of the frost during the blooming season in McCloud, there was nothing else missing from the festival that was a big draw for the whole family.
Along with the pumpkin patch, the apple press where children made their own apple juice, the apple pie contest, horse-drawn wagon rides, and face painting, this year there were also bouncy houses for children to play on.
There were close to 90 different craft and food vendors up and down Main Street and along the side streets in downtown McCloud offering many different items than found during other events like the annual flea market.
The three-member band, Front Porch, played bluegrass, roots country, and "acoustic whatnot" throughout the day. And, in anticipation of the huge crowds, there were many chairs set up in front of the stage for enjoying the music, picnic tables to enjoy all the fun foods from the different concession stands to try, and grassy areas were also available for people to hang out, relax, and enjoy the music while people watching.
Along with the pie contest, the ladies of McCloud baked 100 pies to sell. There was also apple cobbler and many other treats and refreshments for people to try.
Well over a thousand people came to enjoy the one-day festival on Saturday, October 8th.
Photos by Shareen Strauss
Krysten and her daughter Kenna from Redding, look at the Christmas ornaments at the Cher the Crafts booth at the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 8th.
Four generations of the Nile family from Mount Shasta, ages 92 to 1 month, came to see what the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud was all about.
Identical twins Maya and Malia from Dunsmuir check out the custom-crafted key chains to get as a souvenier from the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud.
Kassy Vasquez from Lincoln knew exactly what the custom wooden K cup holder was for at the Barnwood Furniture booth as she checked out the vendors during the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
Nancy Smith of McCloud got a scare from the scarecrow at the Dark Mount Maille as she reached for some candy not realizing the scarecrow was a live person during the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud.
Among the many booths at the Apple Harvest Festival, McCloud High School was selling shirts and hats. There are currently 9 students on campus and over 100 at the virtual academy.
Many people like Doug and Carrie Reed came up from the Redding area to McCloud to enjoy the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
7-year-old Lincoln Mark from the Redding area enjoyed the homemade apple pie with ice cream during the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud on Saturday.
6-year-old Emmie and her mother Raquel Perez from Redding enjoy the music from the Front Porch Band during the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
2-year-old Kash Lamb from Corning is content as he enjoys his lollypop while being hauled around in a wagon during the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud.
Alaynah Aquila with her family, Evette, Michael, and Stephen Nerder enjoying their sweet kettle corn lemonade while walking among the vendors at the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud.
Getting ready for Halloween, Pyroclastic Chocolates is selling Halloween Special Chocolates at her booth during the Apple Harvest Festival.
Children get to make their own apple juice by using the apple press at the Apple Harvest Festival as County Supervisor from District 1, Brandon Criss looks on with his son.
With her face painted, 5-year-old Sydney from Lake Shastina enjoys a root beer snowcone at the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud.
7-year-old Samantha from Anderson gets her face painted at Enchanted Designs Face Painting at the Apple Harvest Festival in McCloud. Even though it takes artist Krystal 5 to15 minutes to paint a face, there is a long line of families throughout the day wanting to get their faces painted.
The McCloud Apple Harvest Festival's pumpkin patch was not just for kids.
A family from Fort Jones buys an apple pie from the McCloud Chamber. They made 100 pies to sell at the Apple Harvest Festival.
Children enjoying the bouncy houses which is a new addition to the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival.
2-year-old Teagan looks on as Leighton and Hadley Davis and Ryane Pacheco all of Redding show off the pumpkins they picked from the pumpkin patch at the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival.
McCloud Volunteer Firemen Jett and Joe help children at the bouncy houses and also demonstrate fire equipment during the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
The Cisneros family from Redding enjoys the children's activities at the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
Jade Marie and Laurel Scysen of Dunsmuir pick out their pumpkins during the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival.
Ethan Russel of Mount Shasta shows off his pumpkin sunglasses at the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
Carly Russell with her children Violet and Ethan buys an apple crumb pie at the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival.
Keeping up with the crowd, Lambchop and Wolfie's Concession and Catering sells hotdogs like crazy throughout the day at the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
Mount Shasta High Schoolers, Karly Kitchen and Audrey Patania sit at their booth called Mt. Shasta Art Studio and Stanley Collective during the Apple Harvest Festival selling their handmade crafts.
Linda Simpson cuts up apples for the apple press at the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival.
Angelina Cook demonstrates how to make apple butter in a sun oven during the McCloud Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.
